PM highlights challenges, opportunities for developing countries: SDG Summit

September 20, 2023 (MLN): Eight years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda 2030, only 12% of the SDG targets are on track, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar highlighted in the SDG Summit Leaders Dialogue, said a press release issued today.

The SDG Summit, taking place from September 18-19, marks the halfway point for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The discussion centered on the critical theme of mobilizing finance and investments, along with exploring the means of implementation for SDG achievement.

The poly-crises of Covid, Climate, and Conflict have devastated the economies of developing countries, the prime minister noted.

This has been further exacerbated by a ‘morally bankrupt’ international financial architecture.

He stressed that at the forthcoming CoP28, Pakistan will seek climate justice, including the fulfillment of the pledge to provide over $100 billion annually in climate finance, allocation of half of this to climate adaptation, and the urgent launch of the Fund for “loss and damage”.

The Prime Minister welcomed the inclusion of many proposals advanced by Pakistan and other developing countries in the SDG Summit Political Declaration, including endorsement of the Secretary General’s SDG Stimulus, early capitalization of Multilateral development banks, re-channeling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for development, and reform of the international financial architecture.

He proposed the creation of a Working Group of the General Assembly to ensure the immediate implementation of these agreements.

 Copyright Mettis Link News