ISLAMABAD: It is not possible for developing countries like Pakistan, which failed to achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Instead, these countries should identify goals based on their resources and try to meet those.

This was said by National University of Science and Technology (Nust) School of Social Sciences and Humanities principal Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan at a session on ‘A Harmonious World: Role of the UN’.

The session was part of a seminar titled ‘The 70th Anniversary of the United Nations: Challenges for Peace, Security and Development’.

Dr Khan said the MDGs were announced in 2000 and featured eight goals and 40 indicators to achieve, which Pakistan was unable to do.

“Now, the SDGs have been introduced, which has 17 goals and 169 indicators to achieve. We could not achieve the [MDGs] and its 40 indicators, so how will we be able to achieve the SDGs and its 169 indictors,” he said rhetorically.

He said Pakistan did not have the capacity to measure the indicators. Instead, he proposed that Pakistan and other developing countries identify goals depending on their resources, and then create the capacity to measure the indicators.

Peking University associate professor Dr Han Hua said China has played a critical role in not just the MDGs but also supporting SDGs.

“Poverty reduction is in China’s top priorities and the economic corridor of Pakistan and China will help to achieve the SDGs,” she said.

Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Islamabad associate professor Dr Huma Haque said a number of government documents claim that the education budget will be increased to four per cent of the GDP by 2018. Responding to a question, she was not particularly hopeful about Vision 2025.

Tsinghua University Pakistan Study Centre deputy director Dr Sun Lizhou said the Pakistani and Chinese media had given importance to the development of Gwadar Port, which he said was very good for development work.

Dr Lizhou was scheduled to give a presentation at the session, but said he was unable to because his laptop computer was stolen while travelling to Pakistan.

“A developed and economically strong Pakistan will be beneficial for all the neighbouring countries, including India,” he said.

Earlier on in the session, former foreign minister Inamul Haq said the UN is a voluntary organisation of nations and is as strong or weak as its members want it to be. He said that while the UN has made significant contributions to peace and security, it has also failed in numerous ways.

He said the great powers’ interests and their veto power often prevented UN from being successful on many counts.

Roots Millennium School represenstative Umer Baber said: “UN has taken a number of initiatives to address issues, such as the men’s campaign for women’s rights, and the US is encouraging solar energy instead of fossil fuel.”

The seminar was organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Chinese embassy, at ISSI on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015