ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Prof. Ahsan Iqbal here on Monday said that the framework of vision 2025 not only helps achieving targets of five year plan (2013-18) but also encourage government to set up priorities and development initiatives.
He stated this at a meeting with Ms. Penny Lawrence, deputy chief executive Oxfam Great Britain, who called on the Federal Minister here on today.
She on the occasion dwelt on Oxfam Great Britain's contribution to Pakistan's development goals in line with vision 2025.
While highlighting importance of vision 2025, Federal Minister said, "Several problems of socio-economic nature arise out of non-planning. Keeping in view 14 years of non-planning and post 18th amendment scenario, it was inevitable to increase the scope of planning in Pakistan. The framework of vision 2025 not only helps achieving targets of five year plan (2013-18) but also encourage government to set up priorities and development initiatives".
The Minister said that interventions in social sector were being undertaken by the Federal Government to achieve sustainable development goals.
The Inter-province Education Ministry was being set up to create uniform education policy and Urbanization Planning Unit would be established in planning commission to address the issues of metropolitan cities.
The government, he said was committed to overcoming energy crisis by 2018 and build modern infrastructure to create connectivity among diverse communities of Pakistan.
While referring to UN 17 sustainable development goals (2015-2030), Ms.Penny Lawrence expressed satisfaction and hope on vision 2025 to complete almost all the targets in 2025, even five years ahead of the rest of the world, which will complete implementation on SDGs by 2030.
The UN has formulated 17 SDGs in place of 7 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expiring in 2015.
The new SDGs will be adopted by the UN at its forthcoming 68th session in September this year.
Addressing socio-economic inequalities was an important point where Oxfam and the government of Pakistan can work together to achieve the desired results of SDGs, she added.
Federal Minister advised Oxfam to show transparency in working and assured government's full support as a partner in creating healthy, equitable and peaceful society in Pakistan.
He appreciated services of Oxfam GB which has been working in Pakistan since 1973 along with local partners and government authorities to improve the livelihoods of the poor and provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of natural disasters.
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