Challenges, criticisms and the current progress of SDGs and solutions/suggestions regarding

it.
Pakistan was the first country to integrate the SDGs into its national development agenda in
February 2016. A National SDGs Framework was launched in 2018 envisaging a national vision,
to prioritize the full potential of SDGs in Pakistan. Although, the global community now finds
itself in the midst of the covid 19 pandemic which has disrupted efforts to achieve the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has slowed economic growth, increased
unemployment, and raised poverty and hunger. Without additional resources to offset the
costs of the pandemic, the achievement of the SDGs is likely to be delayed. Adequate financing
must be made available to the developing countries through comprehensive debt relief and
restructuring, creation of $500 million in SDRs, larger concessional financing, and measures to
halt and recover illicit financial flows from developing countries to richer countries. If we are to
end poverty and hunger, a new strategy for sustainable food production and consumption
should be considered and adopted. The Pakistan government had provided a relief package of
around $8 billion during the pandemic "despite its financial difficulties. The national economic
council sub-committee on SDG’s was constituted to strengthen coordination for accelerated
progress on SDGs. "We desire such cooperation with all countries & propose the convention of
an SDG summit in 2025 to review and accelerate the implementation of the SDG’s.

Discussion on economic recovery in a sustainable way with emphasis on SDG 7 & 13

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for humans to nurture a more harmonious
relationship with nature. As humans pushed the thresholds of their existence,A sustainable
relationship with nature is
nature reacted and triggered the zoonotic pandemic which has now engulfed a
shocked world.possible, but it needs to be backed by political commitment and
collective action. Pakistan’s green agenda, built upon the successful implementation
of the Billion Tree Tsunami Programme had already laid the groundwork for a
directional shift of the economy towards sustainable growth. Pakistan seized the opportunity
provided by the Covid-19 crisis to revive a strained economy with a “Green Stimulus” package
that focused on planting more trees, expanding and reviving our protected areas and improving
urban. In terms of financing, we envisioned three phases, all of which are now in place with
specialized funding options. The purely government financed activities, amounting to Rs10
billion in the first phase have already delivered 85,000 daily wage jobs across the country.
. For the second phase, a new platform called "Ecosystem Restoration Fund"
was launched to allow willing partners (public and private) to credibly and
transparently join Pakistan’s green recovery. Substantial support funds totaling $180
million have been secured through multi-lateral partners which will support the ecological
preservation of 15 national parks.
Pakistan followed up on its announcement to shelve imported coal projects and replace them
with hydroelectric projects.
Pakistan has placed its trust in these diverse nature- based financial instruments and has
responded to nature's cry for a rethink.

Economic recovery of EMDEs and LDCs with emphasis on SDG 1

Research that compares the experiences of a wide range of developing countries finds
consistently strong evidence that sustained growth is the single most important way to reduce
poverty. As of 2021, less than 2% of our population lives under the $1.90 per day poverty
threshold which places the country on track for the achievement of SDG 1. Our government
continues to accord high priority to poverty alleviation because the IMF has projected a sharp
reversal ahead, as an outcome of the covid 19 pandemic. This prioritisation is clearly visible in
some of the major steps taken by our government like the Ehsaas programme, Pakistan’s
largest social protection initiative launched in 2019. The emergency cash programme under
Ehsaas provided cushion to 15 million deserving families. Benazir Income Support Programme
(BISP) aims to lift people out of poverty by facilitating access to either income generating
activities or social services. Kamyab Jawan Program provides assistance and resources to youth
on a national level. As a result of which, they are finally being integrated into civil institutions.
Interest Free Loan Programme is being implemented by PPAF through its 24 Partner
Organizations. This rising trend of poverty related public expenditures reported by Ministry of
Finance is the manifestation of our government’s commitment to making progress on SDGs.

Discussion on SDG 10 & 5

3.Be it gender, income, social, cultural, or any other form, the world is increasingly witnessing
the harmful effects of inequality. Pakistan remains committed to reducing inequality in its
boundaries by implementing laws related to education, healthcare,
socioeconomic welfare & more importantly gender equality. Overall income inequality
in Pakistan has decreased between 2007 and 2019. With the establishment of provincial and
national Commissions on the Status of Women, serious attempts to mainstream gender have
been made by the Government. multiple initiatives such as the establishment of women-only
police stations across the country have also been introduced. In addition to provincial Domestic
Violence Protection and Prevention Act and Protection against Harassment of Women at the
Workplace Acts, have also been passed. A requirement that women must have at least 33 per
cent representation on the boards of statutory bodies and public sector organizations has been
set. Driven by a recent wave of reforms designed to empower women, Pakistan passed an
amendment to the Companies Act in the summer of 2020 to equalize the procedure of opening
a business between women and men. Accelerated Development Plans focus on improving
regional equities by enhancing employability and reducing income inequalities. In 2020-21,
funds amounting to Rs 271 million were allocated for women empowerment. Coming to the
political situation, in Pakistan’s July 2018 general elections there were more female candidates
than in any previous election. For the first time, five transgender candidates contested the
polls. With education and progressive thinking, there are reasons to believe that gender
discrimination will be eradicated in the future.

Economic recovery with emphasis on vaccine distribution

The lethal virus COVID-19 has left no stone unturned in wreaking
havoc in the world. Pakistan has implemented a comprehensive set of measures
like the economic stimulus package of Rs 1,240 billion, a construction package, an
expansion of the social safety net to protect the vulnerable segments of the population,
as well as monetary policy support and targeted financial initiatives.
As of 27th october 2021, a total of around 1 hundred and 2 million vaccine doses have
been administered. More than 8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in
Pakistan through COVAX so far, and more are on the way. This includes some of the most
effective vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna the latter donated by the United
States under COVAX dose-sharing mechanism. Vaccination drives against the
virus this year started simultaneously in all federating units of the country in February and have
been going in full swing. The Government has implemented micro-lockdowns that effectively
limited the infection spread, while permitting partial resumption of economic activity. and
thereby mitigating the economic fallout. Notwithstanding, the recent rise in COVID cases,
Pakistan has been showing signs of a nascent economic recovery with a gradual resumption of
economic dynamism. Real GDP growth is estimated to have rebounded to 3.5 percent in FY21.
With record-high official remittance inflows, received through formal banking channels, and an
accommodative monetary policy, private consumption and investment are
both estimated to have strengthened during the FY. Government consumption is also estimated
to have risen. Investment is also estimated to have recovered marginally, as machinery imports
and cement sales both recorded double-digit growth rates during this period. On the
production side, supported by strong large-scale manufacturing, industrial activity and the
service sector is projected to have rebounded as generalized lockdown measures were
increasingly lifted. With the ensuing recovery in domestic economic activity, imports grew year
on year over the first six months of FY21. Meanwhile, remittances grew by 24.9 percent to
reach a record US$14.2 billion over the same period. State Bank of Pakistan's gross foreign
exchange
reserves increased to US$14.9 billion. Meanwhile, exports are projected to
resume growing from FY22, as external conditions become more conducive and tariff reforms
gain traction. These measures were established to support economic activity and weaken the
economic and social impact of the crisis.

Dams under cpec enhance the country’s water storage capacity, which is
something Pakistan needs to ensure and the absence of which would lead to
a loss in water levels. Other renewable alternatives are also present, the
number of wind farms and wind power projects are more in number. There are
only 4 hydropwer projects under cpec including the ones under construction. So the
impacts can be balanced out. the flow of silt may be significantly affected, but
what the actual impacts will be for agriculture are unknown. managing the river, i.e
storing some of the water when it is available and releasing it later is an effective way to
limit the impacts which is done by dams?
Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim. “iyyāka na’budu wa iyyāka nasta’īn
It is a pleasure to be making this opening statement here at the Bilderberg
Conference. This forum is an important opportunity for the nations and
private institutions to adopt decisions on the courses to be followed in
order to recover from the covid induced recession and restore themselves
on the path to attaining the sustainable development goals by 2030. The
challenge posed by the covid 19 crisis is also a great opportunity to build
back better. We must seize this opportunity to transform the world’s economy into one that is
development oriented and envionmentally sustainable. Pakistan remains committed to
achieving prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth. The common threats faced
by us today not only expose the fragility of the international system, they also
underscore the oneness of humanity. We must disavow power rivalries
and geopolitical competition. We must offer unconditional international
cooperation. Together we can, we must construct a new peaceful,
equitable and sustainable world order. thank you for your time.
The delegate of ……… would like to open/establish General Speakers List
And individual speaker getting by 60/120.