ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Pakistan was committed to achieving the Saarc Development Goals (SDGs) and even in these difficult financial circumstances, the Prime Minister had given clear instruction that public sector expenditures in the social sectors especially health and education will be fully protected.

This was stated by Dr Rashid Amjad, chief economist, Planning and Development Division, at the concluding session of the two-day workshop on Saarc Development Goals. The two-day Consultative Workshop on Saarc Development Goals (SDGs) and livelihood Opportunities for Eradicating of Hunger and Poverty and Launching of SAARC Regional Poverty Profile was attended by Government, development partners, NGOs and academia.

The participants of the Workshop after intensive consultations identified benchmarks along with targets for SDGs indicators i.e. livelihood, health, education and environment for the next five years as per requirement of the decisions of 14th and 15th Saarc Summits to develop country-specific targets and benchmarks in this regard, says a statement issued by the Planning and Development Division here.

The team leaders of the respective groups made presentations discussing challenges and modalities as to how to achieve benchmarks and recommended targets.

The SDGs targets for 2012 have been aligned with the MDGs and have been incorporated in the manifesto of the present government, as the present government is determined to reduce suffering of millions of people living in absolute poverty in Pakistan.