More than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities outside of the federal and provincial capitals of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir will discuss development priorities across the country through the mutual interaction special sittings/dialogues among the related stakeholders and all segments of the masses”.
This was disclosed by a representative of the UNO on the eve of the 11th in a series of 12 dialogues on sustainable development, held in Mirpur, AJK on Thursday hosted jointly by the United Nations and the Planning and Development Department of the AJK administration.
In total, more than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities across six provinces and territories have so far discussed the development challenges which they face, and how they impede economic and social progress in their districts. The dialogues, the first of which took place on August 23rd, are held in the different languages spoken across Pakistan, it was told on thus occasion.
“These dialogues bring the United Nations closer to the people and the local governments that we serve, said Mio Sato, IOM Chief of Mission in Pakistan and acting UN Resident Coordinator. “We have actively listened to their concerns and their ideas. They will work together, and with the United Nations, on accelerating progress to bridge inequalities and reduce poverty. We will share their suggestions with the federal Government as we focus on returning to sustainable development.”
In Mirpur, the discussions focused on four topics chosen by the participants ahead of the event: water, sanitation and hygiene; education; youth employment; and efficient Governance. Nearly 100 local leaders — women and men, including youth — participated together with senior Mirpur officials, the IOM Chief of Mission and acting UN Resident Coordinator, and other UN staff.
The 12 dialogues are engaging local leaders around development issues such as access to basic social services; gender equality and women’s empowerment; climate change; sustainable, inclusive economic growth and decent work; and governance. All are key to Pakistan’s progress towards the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ten SDG dialogues have already taken place in Quetta, Balochistan; in Mardan and Mansehra, Khyber Paktunkhwa; in Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sialkot, Punjab; and in Hyderabad.
