ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Dr Shamshad Akhtar on Thursday said that there is a need to finalise the National Finance Commission (NFC) award at the earliest for timely disbursement of provincial shares due in the next fiscal year.

Addressing a workshop on “Sustainable Development Goals — Baseline and Target Setting”, she said that the finalisation of NFC award was crucial because the provinces are responsible for the social development.

The objective of the workshop was to discuss and debate on SDGs, standards and definition, synchronising data, resolving key methodological issues, aligning federal and provincial budgets and taking on board provincial and local governments to actively pursue goals and play effective role in implementation of policies.

Shamshad said that in order to determine how the provincial and local statistical organisations could help leap forward enhancement and augmentation of data, significant measures and initiatives are required to ensure data is cross verified and received through credible mechanisms.

Furthermore, she stressed the need for Pakistan to adopt strategies in order to enhance local participation for monitoring, accountability and implementation of SDGs 2030 Agenda.

Dr Shamshad Akhtar said that Pakistan is facing challenges of acute macro economic instability and fiscal deficit and requires strict financial discipline and consistent policies to overcome them.

She maintained that creative approach needs to e employed to develop mechanisms to insulate effective financing of sustainable development goals bearing in mind the financial restraints.

She stated that the government needs to take experts on board and modernise statistical data production services which would ultimately help in effective policy making and goal rationalisation.

Rejects US claims on IMF

In another engagement, Dr Shamshad rejected all claims made by United States Secretary Mike Pompeo regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout and benefit to China from such an agreement.

She said that there was no link between the IMF programme and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) adding that Pakistan should take maximum advantage from one time opportunity of CPEC which has the potential to open up more corridors of cooperation in the region and the world.

She was speaking at the launching ceremony of China Study Centre at Sustainable Develop­ment Policy Institute (SDPI).

Dr Shamshad said China has been systematically moving towards achieving SDG and Pakistan can learn from their experience.

She said that Pakistan can benefit from CPEC in term of connecting the region to rest of the world. She said that in the second phase of CPEC, Pakistan needs to examine the opportunities and prioritize its development goals.

Ambassador of China Yao Jing said that his country wants to see Pakistan as a developed and prosperous country and CPEC demonstrates our commitment and support towards that goal.

“CPEC is not only determinant of Pakistan-China relationship, but our relationship is historic which has lasted over decades,” remarked Mr Ying.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2018