New York, 18 July 2023 (TDI): At the Fourth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Pakistan reiterated its commitment to playing an active role in global climate change and sustainability efforts.
Romina Alam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan who also serves as Convener of Pakistan’s National Parliamentary Taskforce on the SDGs, spoke at the conference.
It took place on the sidelines of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
She emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to the Paris Agreement and the UN Development Agenda 2030.
“Our task force has been working tirelessly to improve legislation and enhance accountability. We are committed to ensuring that Pakistan plays an active role in the global discourse on climate change and sustainable development,” said Romania Alam.
Despite Pakistan’s minimal contribution to global carbon emissions, the country has faced severe consequences of climate change; threatening the economic prosperity of the country along with the well-being and security of the people of Pakistan.
Still, Pakistan is committed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Moreover, Pakistan is acutely aware of the urgent need for collective climate action and equitable, sustainable development.
In her concluding remarks, Romina Alam said, “Let us leave here with a renewed determination to strengthen the synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, knowing that our actions today will shape the future we leave for generations to come.”
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Romina also held high-level meetings with UN officials in New York. The aim was to highlight Pakistan’s national efforts toward achieving the SDGs, particularly recent parliamentary initiatives.
She met with Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and outlined efforts undertaken by Pakistan’s parliament to effectively implement the SDGs at the national level.
Additionally, Romina met with Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, commending the work of Pakistan’s UN Mission on representing national interests on global matters related to sustainable development and climate change.
Pakistan’s Commitment to the 2030 Agenda
Pakistan has demonstrated a strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development since its inception.
Pakistan was among the first countries globally to endorse the SDGs when they were first adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
In February 2016, Pakistan’s Parliament unanimously approved the SDGs as the national development agenda through a resolution, mandating the government to mainstream and implement the goals.
Pakistan also established a dedicated Parliamentary SDGs Secretariat based in the National Assembly to oversee SDG localization and implementation.
This places Pakistan among only a handful of countries to institute such a parliamentary mechanism for the SDGs.
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