ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema on Thursday commended the role of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the provision of critical assistance to Pakistan, particularly during floods 2022 and support to the International Partners’ Support Group (IPSG).
The minister was talking to United Nations Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Asia, and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja during a meeting here in Islamabad, according to a press release issued by the Economic Affairs Division
Assuring Pakistan’s commitment, the minister said that it was looking forward to continuing cooperation with UNDP for bridging the financing gap in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He emphasized that better visibility of off-budget projects and alignment between UNDP projects and national development objectives were imperative in achieving SDGs.
Wignaraja thanked the minister for the collaboration and strong partnership in development matters like poverty reduction, financing instruments, climate change, and advancing SDGs.
Pakistan-UNDP Partnership in Development Matters
She agreed to enhance the cooperation between the government of Pakistan and UNDP in the above-mentioned sectors.
Wignaraja assured her full support in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs in exploring innovative financing instruments in the social sector and climate change.
On the occasion, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam and the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath also highlighted the need for cooperation between the UNDP and government of Pakistan to enhance support in capacity building of polio workers and the pending census on HIV/AIDS patients.
