Sindh sets up task force for SDGs

KARACHI: In pursuance of a decision of the Council of Common Interest (CCI), the Sindh government constituted Sindh Population Task Force (SPTF) to devise short term (2020), medium term (2023) and long term (2030) strategies for the stabilisation of population growth to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A notification in this regard was issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah on Friday.



The CCI meeting held on Nov 19, discussed this issue at length and asked all provincial governments to constitute the task force comprising 19 members. According to the notification, the Sindh chief minister (CM) will head the task force and the provincial health and population ministers will be its vice chairpersons. Other members of the task force include the chief secretary, minister for planning and development (P&D), education minister, CM's advisor for information, P&D chairperson, the health additional chief secretary, population welfare secretary, school education secretary, information secretary, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) President Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Peoples Primary Health Initiative Sindh Chairperson Dr Talib Lashari, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation representative Dr Yasmeen Sabih Qazi, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) representative Dr Shabbir Chandio, Dr Azra Ahsan of Agha Khan University and a representative from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pakistan.



The task force may incorporate any new member, as and when required. Any expert may be invited as per need to present specific reports or views for consideration of the task force. Government officials said that the task force has been formed to devise strategies for the stabilisation of population growth to meet SDG targets.  The task force SPTF will meet every four months and will suggest measures to enforce legislation, regulatory mechanisms for reproductive health right.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2018.