New York, 21 September 2023 (TDI): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar of Pakistan participated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit Leader’s Dialogue on the fringes of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) sessions.
In his address, the interim Prime Minister expressed Islamabad’s support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI), emphasized the importance of adequate financing, and urged action in critical areas to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.
Prime Minister Kakar highlighted the necessity for action in key sectors, such as food production, infrastructure investments, industrialization, resilient healthcare systems, and addressing the digital divide. He stressed that effective implementation of the development agenda requires global and regional collaboration.
Moreover, Prime Minister Kakar welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement of establishing a dedicated $10 billion fund to support the implementation of the GDI.
Switching to another significant issue, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar addressed the SDG Summit Leader’s Dialogue.
He emphasized the pressing need for climate justice and sustainable development, particularly in the face of global challenges like COVID-19, climate change, and conflicts. These crises have taken a severe toll on economies in developing nations.
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The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to seeking climate justice, including fulfilling the international pledge to provide over $100 billion annually in climate finance.
He also advocated for allocating half of this funding to climate adaptation efforts and the urgent launch of a Fund dedicated to addressing “loss and damage” caused by climate-related disasters.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar pointed out that, despite eight years passing since the adoption of the SDGs, only 12% of the targets are on track for achievement.
He highlighted the devastating impact of the poly-crisis on developing economies and expressed frustration with what he referred to as a ‘morally bankrupt’ international financial architecture.
The Prime Minister welcomed the inclusion of proposals advanced by Pakistan and other developing countries in the SDG Summit Political Declaration.
These proposals encompass endorsing the Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus, early capitalization of Multilateral Development Banks, re-channelling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for development, and reforming the international financial architecture.
To ensure the immediate implementation of these agreements, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar proposed the creation of a Working Group within the General Assembly.
This comprehensive approach underscores Pakistan’s dedication to addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development goals on multiple fronts.
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