‘Improvement in quality education, gender indicators emphasised’

Islamabad:Reaffirming their dedication to sustainable development and inclusion, AwazCDS-Pakistan along with its members under the aegis of Pakistan Development Alliance and in collaboration with Asia Democracy Network (ADN), Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and Sightsavers International, hosted a National People’s Assembly (NPA) on the International Day of Democracy as well as 11th anniversary of Agenda 2030 for Social Transformation and Summit of the Future.

The NPA aimed to bring together civil society organisations, rights advocates, and policymakers from across the country. The event served as a vital platform to assess Pakistan’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and align efforts with global calls for equity, inclusion, and sustainable development as the 2030 deadline approaches.

In his opening remarks, Zia Ur Rehman, CEO of AwazCDS-Pakistan, highlighted the importance of democracy, economic & gender equality for inclusive and sustainable development. He further informed the participants that three goals specifically SDG 4 (quality education), SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) are falling behind and showing downward trends in the global index. Pakistan should spend more than 25% of its total yearly budget if we are serious in achieving our commitments under SDGs, he emphasised. Pakistan would again fail to achieve its global commitments especially SDGs if the public sector investment remained as low as of now, he warned.

Munazza Gillani, director Pakistan and Middle East, Sightsavers has expressed her commitment to this and said, “At Sightsavers, we ensure that inclusivity and diversity remain at the forefront of every initiative we undertake because these issues impact everyone. Pakistan's economy loses an estimated $3.2 billion due to the lack of engagement with people with disabilities, who make up 10-15% of our population, according to WHO. It's time we join hands, and civil society plays a pivotal role in driving this change.”

The first panel at the NPA, addressed issues such as Equity & Inclusion, Disability Rights, Child Rights, and Social Protection, featuring contributions from social leaders like Dr. Atif Sheikh (STEP), Syed Ishtiaq Ul Hassan Gilani (UGOOD), Muhammad Asim Zafar (CBID-N) and Sameena Nazir (PODA). Syed Ishtiaq Ul Hassan Gilani underscored the importance of enforcing child labour laws, stating, “We must avoid engaging children below the legal age in labour or the market. Clear laws and policies are needed to effectively regulate child labour in the country.”

Sameena Nazir emphasised the timely nature of the assembly, adding, “This assembly has been organised at just the right time, and I hope it reaches the people who can support the change. I’m glad to see that we are putting our efforts in the right direction, addressing critical issues that affect marginalised communities, and working collectively toward a more inclusive and equitable future.”