SDPI to help lawmakers, parliamentary researchers work on SDGs

Think-tank to help create evidence-based legislation, assist in parliamentary business

ISLAMABAD : A policy think-tank signed an agreement with the national parliament on Friday to assist legislators and in research, authentic and credible data provision and analysis for parliamentary business.

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Friday has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Secretariat of the National Assembly.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri signed the MoU at the SDG Secretariat office.

Both the SDPI and SDGs Secretariat agreed to work together to promote and raise awareness regarding SDGs through advocacy campaigns at the grass-roots level.

Sadiq said that the agreement will be utilised to build the research capacity of parliamentarians through capacity development training workshops provided by SDPI.



He added in the wake of global emerging challenges to development, the SDG secretariat will seek evidence-based advice and technical support from SDPI.

Under the agreement, the next parliament which is elected will have an opportunity to better function around SDG targets, he added.

Dr Suleri reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to SDGs given how the country had adopted its own national development agenda to achieve the targets. Despite that, Dr Suleri reminded that achieving SDG targets remains a major challenge, largely due to lack of research capacity and skills of the legislatures.

The agreement, he hoped, would strengthen the evidence-based legislation and facilitation in providing relevant research and help in drafting legislative bills.

Through training, learning and development programmes, he said that the SDPI will develop the capacity of lawmakers and that of the National Assembly’s research staff.



“SDPI role is working towards building consensus across political for, especially forging political consensuses around issues related to SDGs,” he added.

Federal Minister for Information Maryam Aurangzeb, former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam, SDPI Uptake and Business Development Director Research Shakeel Ahmad Ramay and others were also present for the signing ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2018.