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Islamkot to become a Model Taluka

Karachi, May 15, 2018 (PPI-OT): Government of Sindh has pledged to make Islamkot, Thar, a model SDG Taluka, endeavoring to address socio-economic issues being faced by the local community, while meeting multiple sustainable development goals in line with the government’s agreement with UN’s global agenda 2030.

At a ceremony held here, Government of Sindh, Thar Foundation, and SDGs Support Unit, UNDP Pakistan signed off on a novel, first-of-its kind, public-private partnership agreement to innovatively bring grass root level change in the taluka, and uplift the socio-economic status of the local community.

In 2016, Government of Sindh, as part of the national initiative on SDGs, signed on to the global Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, that inculcate a vision and direction for a better tomorrow, targeting human prosperity, reduction in poverty, healthy eco-systems, a stable climate, and a clean environment. 06 SDGs have been set as priorities up to 2025 by the honourable Chief Minister Sindh.

With UNDP Pakistan’s technical support, a devoted SDGs Support Unit has been set up and is operational in Planning and Development Board to create and facilitate an enabling environment for government of Sindh and pertinent stakeholders, across multiple sectors to achieve Agenda 2030, through policy advocacy, research, knowledge management, devising of innovative approaches, with the aim to mainstream and localize SDGs in the province.

In Tharparker, Thar Foundation, with the technical assistance of UNDP’s SDGs Support Unit, will help Government of Sindh proliferate a best practice in localization and implementation of Agenda 2030, addressing multiple high priority SDGs, which comprise: Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Zero Hunger, and Decent Work and Economic Growth, while No Poverty, Gender Equality, and Climate Action remain integral cross cutting issues. The initiative will be overseen by a notified Steering Committee, with senior representatives from Government of Sindh, SECMC, and SDGs Support Unit. The first meeting will be held later this month to set forth a practical action plan that can help to transform this innovation vision into a reality, that can be replicated across Sindh.

“The public-private partnership initiative between Government of Sindh, Thar Foundation, and SDGs Support Unit of UNDP Pakistan, is a key achievement – a milestone in the efforts to localize SDGs in Sindh, bringing together government, private sector, and UN. It caters to the Government of Sindh’s vision to uplift the life of a common man, UNDP’s vision to localize SDGs, and Thar Foundation’s vision to address local grassroot level problems”, said Mr. Muhammad Waseem, Chairman, P and D Board, Government of Sindh.

“Working closely with Government of Sindh, and private sector entities like SECMC Thar Foundation, we, UNDP Pakistan and the SDGs Support Unit’s team are setting examples of innovative synergies that are needed to bring a paradigm shift in Sindh, and spearhead development in the right direction to achieve Agenda 2030, and fulfil our global commitment, while bringing positive change in the lives of the common man,” said Mr. Shakeel Ahmed, Assistant Country Director, UNDP Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Information and Archives Department
Directorate of Press Information
Government of Sindh
95-Sindh Secretariat 4-B, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-99204423, +92-21-99204401
Email: pressinformationzubair@gmail.com
Website: http://sindhinformation.gos.pk