December 2022 - You are accessing an archived version of our website. This website is no longer maintained or updated. The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform has been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/

Pakistan
Voluntary National Review 2019

Key Messages of Pakistan’s VNR– HLPF 2019

Political commitment, institutional readiness – partnerships to scale-up

As a demonstration of political commitment and ownership, Pakistan integrated the SDGs into its national development agenda in February 2016. Pakistan was first such country to do so.

This reorientation in approach was guided inter alia by lessons learnt from the implementation strategy of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

A National SDGs Framework was launched in 2018 envisaging a national vision, plan and strategy to optimize, prioritize and localize the full potential of SDGs in Pakistan.

In terms of institutional arrangement, task forces in the National and Provincial Parliaments have been established to review progress and facilitate legislative support for implementation.

Seven SDGs Support Units instituted at Federal and Provincial Government levels facilitate vertical and horizontal coordination among the stakeholders.

Notwithstanding economic and financial challenges, Pakistan will continue to work towards achieving the SDGs through innovative, targeted and focused implementation strategies in the social, economic and environmental fields.

A key aspect of implementation strategy is strengthening of the existing and forging new alliances, leveraging technology and mobilizing finance. Partnership and close collaboration with a broad array of governmental, private, civil society and media actors, supplemented by regional and international support, will continue to be a major feature.

Ambitious plans to alleviate poverty

Commitment to poverty alleviation remains a key focus. Through key interventions and programmes, progress has been made even if challenges persist. Over the last ten years, poverty headcount has fallen by 26 percent and multi-dimensional poverty decreased by 16 percent points.

A national poverty alleviation program – Ehsaas (Compassion) has been launched this year to expand social protection, safety nets and support human capital development throughout the country. This programme complements and expands the on-going robust social protection program for poor women.

The national resolve to eliminate poverty is firm. The size of assistance for the lowest strata has been enhanced. The National Socioeconomic Registry (NSR) is being updated to target the poorest more effectively and ensure that no one is left behind.

Committed to eliminating hunger and improving health

Reductions in stunting and malnutrition have taken place - over the period 2013-2018 by 6 and 9 percentage points, respectively. Recognizing the persistent challenge, greater focus and allocation of resources is being made.

The prevalence of skilled birth attendance has improved by 17 percentage points while neonatal mortality rate has fallen by 10 percentage points during the same period. The Lady Health Workers Programme, with its grassroots presence, has been instrumental in achieving this improvement.

A new universal health coverage initiative – the Sehat Sahulat Program - has been launched this year to provide health insurance coverage for those in need. Health Sector reforms are underway, entailing a centralized integrated disease surveillance system and strong inter-provincial information sharing mechanism.

From commitment to action- environmental protection and climate change

Even as our carbon footprint is miniscule, the adverse impacts of climate change on Pakistan are enormous and imminent. Climate adaptation has become a forced reality for Pakistan.

These factors notwithstanding, Pakistan has commenced actions to both protect the environment and contribute towards efforts to minimize the adversaries of climate change. Both adaptation and mitigation are reflected in our policy and implementation approach.

Pakistan’s Billion Tree plantation over 350,000 hectares was the first Bonn Challenge pledge to hit and surpass its commitment, through national resources. This project has now been up-scaled to 10 Billion Tree Tsunami – a five-year country-wide tree plantation drive to restore depleted forests and mitigate climate change.

Moreover, programmes such as Clean and Green Pakistan as well as Recharge Pakistan have been launched. These Nature Based Solutions for Ecosystem Restoration are leading examples of climate action among developing countries, with co-benefits to improve bio-diversity and livelihood generation.

Monitoring and evaluation

Periodic monitoring and evaluation of various strands of the SDGs framework remains an important priority. Baselines and targets for all SDG indicators have been determined since 2018. National data collection tools have been modified to improve data availability with a focus on equity and sustainability aspects of SDGs. Transparency would be a major hallmark of the monitoring and evaluation architecture- through the establishment of SDGs Dashboard.  

A national approach anchored in partnerships, aided by technology and facilitated by finance, would catalyze and scale up implementation of the 2030 agenda.

Focal point
Mr. Jawed Ali Khan
Director General (Environment)
Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan, Local Government Building, Sector G-5/2, Islamabad

Qazi Saleem
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
United Nations Division
E-mail: qazisaleem@gmail.com
Documents & Reports

Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where Pakistan is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
Capacity development of SAS member countries for the preparaion of specific policies to implement goal 14

South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) is an inter-governmental Organization, established in 1982 by Governments of the eight South Asian countries to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region. Countries, namely; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have ratified the articles of Association of SACEP. It is also registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations as Multilateral Organization in accordance with under the Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations. SACEP has its hea...[more]

Partners
South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme - SACEP (IGO), Ministry of environment, Ministry of Shipping, Coast Guard, Navy, Disaster Management Ministry, Ministry of Fisheries of each member countries.
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Designation of the First Ever Marine Protected Area in Pakistan

The Conference of Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed in 2004 that marine and coastal protected areas are an essential tool for the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity (article 8 of the convention). The target 11 of Aichi Biodiversity Targets agreed by all Parties to the CBD specify that each Party has to declare at least 10% of its coastal and marine areas as Marine Protected Area (MPA), especially the areas of biodiversity significance and ecosystem services. Pakistan is a Party to CBD and shown commitment to implementation of SDGs. ...[more]

Partners
1. Forest & Wildlife Department, Government of Balochistan 2. Fisheries Department, Government of Balochistan 3. Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh 4. Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan 5. Pakistan Navy 6. National Institute of Oceanography 7. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) / Mangroves for the Future Programme (MFF) 8. Indus Earth Trust 9. WWF Pakist...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
IHO Hydrography Capacity Building Programme for Coastal States

The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]

Partners
International Hydrographic Organization (IGO); 87 IHO Member States (Governments); International Maritime Organization (UN); World Meteorological Organization (UN); International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (NGO)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustaining resilience - development in crisis

The objective of the side event is showcase Pakistan's unique case in sustaining its development in the face of uninvited natural calamities, conflict and engagement and superimposed self inflicted challenges.

Partners
(A) Government of Pakistan: (i) Ministry of Climate Change, (ii) Planning & Development Division, (iii) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (iv) Ministry of Science & Technology, (v) National Disaster Management Authority (B) Provincial Governments (C) Donors: UNDP (D) NGOs: (i) IUCN, (ii) LEAD Pakistan (E) Academia (F) Media (G) Youth
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Technology for Sustainable Development

To promote technology-led growth in Pakistan, a comprehensive R&D promotion program was devised and implemented. It achieved two objectives:1) Promoted solution-oriented research culture across Pakistan by involving 300+ universities, industries, social and governmental organizations2) Developed a locally fit technology transfer mechanism and number of solutions were transferred from universes to industry creating new business, employment and other positive effects

Partners
Institute of Research Promotion (IRP) Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC) Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries University of Management and Technology South Asia Triple Helix Association SRC (Pvt.) LTD
Sustainable Development Goals
Statements
9 Jun 2017
21 Jun 2012
13 May 2011
13 May 2010
11 May 2006
5 May 2006
4 May 2006
3 May 2006
3 May 2006
2 May 2006
1 May 2006
21 Apr 2005
30 Apr 2004
21 Apr 2004
United Nations