Pakistan to join upper middle income countries by 2030: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday said Pakistan had integrated the objectives and targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 in its national economic and development planning, which would enable it to join the league of upper middle class countries by 2030.

Addressing a special event at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Aziz said Pakistan’s seriousness about implementing the SDGs was reflected in the Vision 2025, said a press release received here.

He said the Vision 2025 was a policy framework of the Government of Pakistan to build upon the Millennium Development Goals and use it as a launching pad for complete fulfillment of the SDGs before 2030. He said Pakistan was perhaps the first country to formalise broad political support for the SDGs through adoption of a unanimous resolution in the National Assembly of Pakistan on February 19, 2016.

He also highlighted the government s economic policies that have infused greater realisation in the international community and financial institutions of the country’s economic strength.Sartaj Aziz is in Bangkok to participate in the 14th Ministerial meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).