The Parliamentary SDGs Secretariat of the National Assembly of Pakistan in collaboration with Mustehkam Parlimaan – a project of the European Union – organized a two-day Conference titled ‘National Meet on Sustainable Development Goals 2022’, from 27th to 28th July 2022 in Islamabad. Engr. Qaiser Nawab, Assistant Director (Programmes), participated in the event as COMSATS’ representative. The event was aimed at identifying challenges, as well as re-strategizing the approaches for the monitoring and implementation of Global Goals in an inclusive, resilient and sustainable manner.
The inaugural, which was held on 27th July 2022, had the participation of representatives from governmental organizations, public/private sector, civil society, academia, and diplomatic community, among others. The event provided key perspectives on Pakistan’s standing with respect to SDGs.
Mr. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, inaugurated the event and remarked that the Government of Pakistan is making policy choices that will help build a successful, sustainable and resilient future.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning and Development, observed that SDGs can only be implemented by localizing their solutions in Pakistan’s unique context. Dr. Riina Kionka, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, considered the National Task Force on the implementation of SDGs an important stakeholder in the process of prioritization and accountability.
Ms. Romina Khurshid, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister/ Convener of the Conference, stated that the aim of the National Conference was to bring together stakeholders from all over Pakistan to share ideas, expertise and solutions for taking ambitious action and building partnerships to achieve the SDGs.
Sharing his views during the session on “National Dialogue on Climate Change and the Impact of Heat Wave”, Engr. Nawab stated that there is a need to emphasize on R&D to produce heat resistant seeds that could help improve the agricultural productivity of Pakistan. He also opined that STEM education and ST&I both are vital to address the challenges and crises impeding progress towards SDGs. He also shared his learning from the “Rural Youth Forum 2020” held in Russia; and added that contemporary job market trends demand skills more than a degree. In a parallel session on “Re-Defining Corporate Social Responsibility for the achievement of SDGs”, Engr. Nawab gave recommendations to systematize the use of CSR funds and also encouraged supporting technology start-ups.
