Democracy only way to achieve SDGs, say Marriyum

Says in the 2018 elections, the PML-N will seek the mandate of the people on the basis of its performance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) only through the continuity of the democratic process and strong system of governance, said State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb.

The minister said this while addressing the concluding ceremony of the three-day workshop and conference on the SDGs for the members of the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly at the SDGs Secretariat on Friday. She also said that every Pakistani will have to contribute his share in the development of the country by rising above political affiliations.

Marriyum said, “The voice of the people did not reach parliament under the dictatorial regimes and the failure of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) was also because of dictatorship in the country.”

Marriyum said that in the 2018 elections people would vote for the parties which had delivered and the PML-N would seek the mandate of the people on the basis of its performance.

Referring to the Kasur episode the minister said that there was an urgent need to review the laws at the federal and provincial levels, besides including the subject on awareness in the curricula of schools.

The minister while strongly condemning the Kasur episode, said that it was the collective responsibility to take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and enact such laws which were implementable at all levels.

Later the minister also had an interaction with the students from Aitcheson College who were on a visit to the SDGs secretariat and Assembly. She thoroughly briefed them on the steps to achieve targets of the SDGs.