‘SDGs cannot be achieved without taking some key political decisions’: CM Murad

Convener of the task force on SDGs outlines a five-point roadmap for achieving SDGs in Sindh


Our Correspondent May 17, 2019
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah resolved to put all efforts to make Sindh a model province in regards to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He underlined the need of expanding partnerships across different actors involved in social sector development at a conference on ‘Policy Dialogue on SDGs: Re-imagining Peoples Development in Sindh’, organised jointly by the Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), SDGs Support Unit and Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI).

The CM said that though Sindh has taken many initiatives to achieve the SDG targets, however, he has come to realise that the holistic achievement of SDGs is only possible if the goals are integrated with the on-going provincial planning processes.

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He said that the Annual Development Programme (ADP) in Sindh amounting to Rs.55 billion in 2008-09 was increased by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government to Rs.161 billion in 2012-13 and then again to Rs.274 billion in 2017-18. These funds include the development allocation for district plans, which was Rs12 billion in 2008-09 and later increased to Rs30 billion in 2017-18.

Shah said, “I am of the view that SDGs cannot be achieved without making some key political decisions aimed at critical public policy rethinking, coupled with enhanced political ownership of SDG framework. Therefore, he added, development communities need to identify the political pathways through which progress action towards sustainable development can be made possible”.

Pir Mujib-ul-Haq, convener of the task force on SDGs, outlined a five-point roadmap for mainstreaming SDGs in Sindh. These include engaging political parties, facilitating and leading SDGs-responsive legislation, undertaking parliamentary oversight on the performance of SDGs targets and indicators, facilitating the government on SDGs-responsive budget making, resource allocation and ensuring SDGs-focused representation as well as undertaking public hearings and community consultation in partnership with all relevant stakeholders.

Abdul Rasheed, parlaimetary leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), suggested empowering local government to achieve SDGs focusing on social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Haaris Hazdar and Kaiser Bengali also spoke on the occasion. They explained the poverty dynamics in the province and suggested a framework for inclusive development.

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Planning And Development Secretary Sheerin Mustafa said that resource allocation in the current budget manifests these priorities and targets, in the areas of poverty, water and sanitation, youth, women empowerment, health, education, agriculture, energy, and environment. For example, she said, in FY 2017-18, government spent 20% to 25% of the total development budget and about 10% to15% of total recurrent budget on pro-poor activities. The government intends to expand these activities in their budgetary provisions in the next financial year as well. This is also in line with the principles of Sindh 2025 Vision, she added.

Tracking the expenditure on SDGs will be as important as allocating resource for SDGs. Naoko Takasu, deputy resident representative of UNDP, said that Sindh has a history of introducing progressive laws and policies and now we need to implement them to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2019.

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