Fozia Azam

Coordinated efforts should be undertaken to solve the problems concerning sustainable development and a better environment, Riaz Fatyana, a former convenor of the parliamentary taskforce on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) said. Speaking at the Sustainable Development Conference, he said that while Pakistan has good legislation and regulatory frameworks for industrialization and development that are environmentally friendly, it lacks the ability and willingness to implement the SDGs. 

In order to make Pakistan’s cities liveable, Fatyana said, the local governments' ability must be increased because there is a significant financing deficit in efficient city administration. According to him, urban pollution in general and rising air pollution in particular have become major problems that call for substantial public awareness initiatives. Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Economic Advisor for Ministry of Finance, emphasised the significance of information exchange in addressing regional environmental and development-related problems.

Regional countries need to improve collaboration to learn from each other about their best practises in a variety of areas, including efficient town planning and coping with problems like water shortages, insufficient clean water, and a lack of infrastructure for the health and education sectors. Dr Posh Raj Pandey, Chairman, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics, Environment, Nepal, and Kewal Prasad Bhandari, Secretary, National Planning Commission, Nepal, shared the recommendations finalized through a group discussion amongst the panellists.

The experts stressed that while South Asian countries are making some headway toward achieving the SDGs, particularly those that are concerned with providing basic services to the populace, serious problems exist. These include inclusive development, sustainable urbanisation, responsible industrialization, and the fact that the majority of the population does not have access to basic services like health and education. They emphasised the significance of strengthening regional collaboration amongst South Asian countries so that they can support one another in reaching the SDGs for sustainable and inclusive development.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk