Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Muniba Mazari appointed UN SDG advocate, Joins Global leaders for 2030 agenda

Muniba Mazari appointed UN SDG advocate, Joins Global leaders for 2030 agenda

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s “Iron Lady” Muniba Mazari has achieved another historic milestone as she has been entrusted with a prestigious global responsibility by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Mazari has been appointed as an Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), joining the ranks of world leaders and changemakers advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda. Her formal … Read more

Ahsan Iqbal: Pakistan keen on alluring private sector to attain SDGs

Ahsan Iqbal
  • Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stated on Thursday that the Pakistani government was eager to explore cooperation opportunities and find solutions with the corporate sector to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Switzerland, Pakistan, Ghana, and Montenegro were co-sponsors of the event.
    The minister congratulated the forum’s organizers and co-organizers for hosting the discussion on “leaving no one behind” for a resilient economic recovery

 

NEW YORK: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stated on Thursday that the Pakistani government was eager to explore cooperation opportunities and find solutions with the corporate sector to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The way forward for Pakistan is to develop an economic value proposition that creates incentives for financial markets and private investors to participate in sustainable development through a strategic partnership and innovative financial instruments supported by a conducive policy framework,” the minister said at a conference on the Localization of VNR process at the headquarters of the United Nations.

Switzerland, Pakistan, Ghana, and Montenegro were co-sponsors of the event.
The minister congratulated the forum’s organizers and co-organizers for hosting the discussion on “leaving no one behind” for a resilient economic recovery.

According to him, the increased uncertainty caused by COVID-19 has caused a unique convergence of geopolitical reorientation, supply disruptions, food and energy instability, and increasingly volatile financial markets.

Pakistan’s second VNR Report documents the progress of the national key performance indicators, he said, adding that the report had been painstakingly compiled and produced at a pivotal time when the country had faced an unprecedented human and economic toll and continues to fight an uphill battle to address the inequities in implementing its recovery and rehabilitation efforts across the country.

Consequently, according to Ahsan Iqbal, our second VNR also takes into account the loss of development benefits and the resultant delays in reaching Agenda 2030.
While we struggle to manage our internal and foreign macroeconomic imbalances, the Pakistani government is committed to rectifying the situation.

He stated that Pakistan was a resilient nation that has faced comparable debt levels and deficits in the past and emerged victorious.
“We believe that capitalizing on the youth bulge, providing room for the private sector, and concentrating on governance, regulation, and the social sector will be essential for future sustainability and progress on the SDG 2030 agenda.”

Today, he stated that one of our greatest difficulties is to devise inventive methods for handling several obstacles while simultaneously capitalizing on the numerous possibilities they present.
The purpose of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) is to assess how far nations have come in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Inclusion, the minister stressed, is the key to achieving sustainable development. When it is accompanied by equity, it accelerates the process. We are advancing toward the year 2030.
He noted that the epidemic widened the chasms of inequality, sending numerous nations down the perilous route of economic rescue by borrowing.

Even rich nations are already struggling from its repercussions, he added, indicating that the global outlook is dismal. There is an urgent need for homegrown solutions based on the principles of sustainability and independence.
Utilizing young potential to its fullest extent, positioning women as drivers of economic progress and prosperity, and channeling excluded parts of society into sustainable and community-driven social safety nets may minimize state costs and provide overall economic advantages.

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Fawad Khan joins hands with UN sustainable development

Fawad Khan

Fawad Khan has become the new face of UNDP. He will be assisted in increasing awareness and implementing the agenda. The ceremony for the deal was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Sustainable Development Goals provide us with a roadmap for peace and prosperity, for people and the planet, says Fawad Khan. The United Nations Development … Read more

IPRI holds ‘Afghanistan and South Asia’ webinar

IPRI

ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Japan in Islamabad in collaboration with the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) held a webinar on Thursday, titled, ‘Afghanistan and South Asia’, a statement said. The deliberations covered Afghanistan’s post-Taliban scenario, Pakistan-India relations with particular focus on Kashmir and regional connectivity. The Japanese speakers included Middle East Institute of Japan Research … Read more

Back on track

Pakistan’s economy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s economy brushed aside the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as it registered a robust growth of 4.5 per cent in 2021, a latest UN report revealed. At the same time, the global body advised the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to assess the magnitude and timing of the monetary policy to support … Read more

SECMC hits 10 million tonnes production milestone

SECMC

KARACHI: The Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) has successfully achieved 10 million tonnes of coal production milestone, a statement said. SECMC, one of the largest public-private partnership in the energy sector, commenced commercial operations in July 2019 with an annual production capacity of 3.8 million tonnes. Over the last two-and-a-half years, SECMC has successfully … Read more

Chinese scientist wins International Science Council award

chinese scientist

BEIJING – A Chinese scientist on Wednesday won the Science for Sustainability Award at the first International Science Council (ISC) Awards for his contribution to sustainable development goals. Guo Huadong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is also a researcher at the Aerospace Information Research Institute under CAS. The prize was established … Read more

Pakistani mission lauds Austria’s efforts against Covid-19

efforts against Covid-19

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Austria Aftab Ahmad Khokher appreciated the host country’s efforts against Covid-19 and hoped that life would soon return to normalcy. In a meeting with Vienna’s Mayor Dr Michael Ludwig, Khokher stated that the two countries enjoyed close cooperation but there was huge potential to further strengthen trade and economic ties, especially … Read more

“Ending social divisions is a matter of urgency,” says FM

FM

Foreign of Minister (FM) of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called upon forging a global alliance against the rise and spread of Islamophobia and other violent groups. According to the details, Shah Mahmood Qureshi while addressing a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council held in a virtual format, called upon the … Read more