ISLAMABAD: Budgetary indicators demonstrate a glaring lack of consideration when it comes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pakistan, making it imperative for programmes, interventions and policies to champion the rights of the people effectively.

This was the crux of the day-long roundtable session on “Integrating SDGs Agenda into Standing Committees” organised by the National Assembly of Pakistan in collaboration with the UNICEF Pakistan, here on Wednesday.

The roundtable session was attended by Chairmen of the Standing Committees and National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs, which was moderated by MNA Shandana Gulzar Khan.

Riaz Fatyana, MNA, convener SDGs Taskforce said, “193 member states of the United Nations made a universal promise in 2015 to leave no one behind through 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With 10 years left to achieve the SDGs, and COVID-19 causing devastating setbacks for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, the UN 2030 Agenda for SDGs at its core provides an organised and structured blueprint of international cooperation.”

The UNICEF Pakistan gave a detailed presentation on “Policy Discussion and Recommendation on SDGs Financing – Child Centered Budget Analysis”, which highlighted the importance of public finance for children.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Hafiz A. Pasha, former finance minister.

He stated that budgetary indicators demonstrate a glaring lack of consideration when it comes to SDGs in Pakistan.

An analysis of budgetary allocations indicates that the total allocation for human development programmes have remained around 0.74 percent of the total public expenditure of the federal government in 2013-14, and less than one percent of the GDP during the last four years.

This makes it imperative for programmes, interventions and policies to champion the rights of the people effectively.

Since investment in public is demonstrated through state budget, the budget should be human friendly/sensitive.

It is a first step in examining the resources government is allocating to programmes that benefit the general public, and whether these programmes adequately reflect the needs of the citizens.

The keynote address led to a constructive debate which analysed the existing gaps and loopholes.

The parliamentarians directly questioned the development partners and committee chairpersons.

They presented their concerns and a way forward for an efficient and effective coordination between the standing committees and the SDGs taskforce.

The session was concluded by Nafeesa Khattak, who in her remarks said, “The Standing Committees of the House play an important role of oversight and monitoring the working of the relevant ministries of the government. In the parliamentary democracies, the Committees are regarded as eyes, ears, hands an even brain of the Parliament.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020