UNITED NATIONS, April 24: Pakistan assured the international community that it was sparing no efforts to implement the sustainable development goals to meet internationally agreed target dates for clean water, basic sanitation and decent housing.
In meetings on Friday, at the UN headquarters, Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi, who is leading Pakistan’s delegation to the Commission on Sustainable Development, urged developed countries to honour their commitments of financial assistance to the developing nations to enable them to implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aimed at reducing poverty.
Meanwhile Minister for Environment Maj(R) Tahir Iqbal, speaking at a separate high-level session, urged international donors and private entrepreneurs to invest in small and medium enterprise (SME’S) in the developing countries.
He also called for technical support through technology transfer in the fields of water management and sanitation for enabling them to meet their specific needs.
The commission is the key UN forum bringing together countries to consider ways to integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development -– economic growth, social development and environmental protection.
Two years ago, the 53-member panel approved a multi-year work plan featuring different thematic clusters of issues for each cycle. This year’s policy session is discussing water, sanitation and human settlements. Nearly 150 government ministers from across the world are participating in the meeting.
Mr Jatoi informed the commission that Pakistan had taken a number of steps to extend clean drinking water and sanitation to the deprived communities and settlements. A draft national water policy had been prepared on principle of integrated water management and preservation of environment, he said. Better water management plans have been formulated for the agriculture sector.
