Focus of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Government on economic growth, development was unrelenting: Ambassador Masood Khan

New York, July 09, 2014 (PPI-OT): Pakistan highlighted steps taken by the government for economic growth that would provide the foundations of equitable development at the United Nations.

Ambassador Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN in a statement at the General Debate of Economic and Social Council said that the focus of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Government on economic growth and development was unrelenting.

“Education and health spending as a ratio of GDP is being doubled. The Prime Minister’s programme for providing a credit line to young entrepreneurs, quality education, life skills and vocational training is creating new opportunities for utilizing the full potential of our youth bulge. Similarly, energy, infrastructure and communications projects would provide the much-needed impetus for economic growth”, he added.

The Pakistani envoy said that in Pakistan, the MDGs have provided with concrete socio-economic targets to work towards poverty alleviation, good governance, and social justice. He added, “Poverty in Pakistan is being reduced. Other areas like child mortality and improved maternal health are in progress. Our efforts to promote women empowerment by enhancing their representation in national and provincial legislatures and enacting appropriate legal framework – something acknowledged in the report of the Secretary General – are producing tangible results on the ground”.

Ambassador Khan said that Pakistan’s success, however, has been hampered by the security situation, fight against terrorism and frequent and massive natural disasters. He expressed Pakistan’s determination as a nation to overcome these challenges.

He referred to the Millennium Development Goals Report launched a day before by the Secretary General which demonstrated that the glass was more than half full. He said that while successes have been achieved, the report also indicates that much more needs to be done to accelerate progress and that the momentum towards achieving the unmet goals needs to be sustained. “By the time the MDGs process winds down, we will have a blueprint for the post-2015 development agenda”, Ambassador Khan added.

Pakistan supported UN Secretary General’s recommendation to develop an intergenerational approach towards inclusive development. Pakistani envoy emphasized that financing for development should not become our big, blind spot and that search for resources should not be found on politics but guided by sound economics.

He also stressed monitoring, accountability and a well conceived review mechanism to be intrinsic and integral to the post-2015 agenda. “Complementary national development strategies were the bedrock of the MDGs. The same should hold true for SDGs. Without a national buy in, success would be difficult and elusive”, he added.

Pakistan, Ambassador Khan said, believed in strong partnership with the United Nations in achieving development objectives as well as MDGs and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. “Crafting solutions that eliminate poverty, strengthen institutional capacity and improve the lives of people remain our priority”, he added.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323 and +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325 and +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com