UNDP, Punjab lawmakers discuss steps to end inequality

Dialogue includes measures for effective implementation of SDGs

LAHORE:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan representatives held a dialogue with members of Punjab Provincial Assembly (PA) on Monday to highlight the role of the lawmakers in reducing inequalities in society and providing equal opportunities to citizens in all districts of the province.

The dialogue was conducted by the Punjab Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Unit, which was attended by the Punjab SDGs Task Force comprising parliamentarians at the committee room of the PA.

The dialogue was aimed to initiate provincial-level discussion on the UNDP Pakistan's National Human Development Report 2020.

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Policy analyst, Development Policy Unit, UNDP Pakistan Umer Akhlaq Malik, Joint Chief Economist, P&D Board Punjab Dr Muhammad Amanullah and Project Manager Punjab SDGs Unit Shahzad Khalil briefed the parliamentarians on the inequalities and incongruities in various fields.

Punjab SDGs Task Force Convener Mian Shafi Muhammad said, “It is high time to capitalise on the research and findings outlined by the UNDP's NHDR 2020 and synergise province's policy efforts to achieve development targets.”

The speakers also stressed effective implementation of SDGs in the areas of health, education and climate action.

The participants discussed the UNDP's NHDR 2020 and underscored the need for various steps to overcome inequalities through measures like reducing the privileges of the elite, spending more on human development and investing more in the youth of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2021.