National SDGs Progress and Challenges in the context of COVID-19: Reflections on (VNRs) in SSWA


ISLAMABAD, Dec 06 (SABAH): Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, said the South Asian region is facing similar challenges of climate crisis, and global recession due to conflicts and slow growth in terms of achieving the ambitious sustainable development goals (SDGs) that demands the entire region to join hands for a holistic and unanimous intervention to attain the task.

She was speaking at a panel discussion titled: National SDGs Progress and Challenges in the Context of COVID-19: Reflections on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in South and South-West Asia (SSWA)’ on the second day of 25th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and jointly held alongside UNESCAP’s 6th South and South-West Asia High-level Political Forum and Policy Dialogue on SDGs. The 4-day conference is being held in Islamabad from 5-8 December 2022.

Ms Aisha Ghaus Pasha said there are the challenges at present for the region as a whole and Pakistan in general. However, there is a mix of development on SDGs agenda as there has been progress in many areas in few regions but on the other hand the progress is slow on other indicators. She informed the forum that according to global estimates the loss to the entire South Asia is $400 trillion dollars overall which it will face till 2026.

The minister underlined that the 2030 Agenda achievement is seemingly becoming very difficult due to the prevailing economic situation that demanded of the countries to focus on an urgent strategic effort to make accelerated progress.

Ms Pasha underlined that the major challenge to the South Asian states is of SDGs financings. The floods in Pakistan incurred huge economic and collateral damages leaving over half a million expecting mothers without home and under open skies, which is a catastrophe, she said. The whole effort was mammoth, but the UN and donor agencies and friendly countries helped and supported the relief and rehabilitation efforts. 

Oliver Paddison, Chief of Countries in Special Situations Section, ESCAP, delivered his welcome remarks on the introduction of VNRs in Asia-Pacific Region.

Ali Kemal, Chief SDGs, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. provided a detailed overview of the country’s VNRs presented at the HPLF 2022.

Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe, Member of Sustainable Development Council, Sri Lanka presented a detailed overview on the VNRs presented at the High Level Political Forum by Sri Lanka. She said that the South and Southwest Asia region will have to strengthen regional cooperation to achieve SDGs.

Mohammad Masud Rana, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh said the government of Bangladesh has taken whole of nation approach to implement SDGs. In order to overcome pandemic impacts, he said international multilateralism and global solidarity is the best way to overcome crisis and achieve SDGs. 

Mr Phurba, Senior Planning Officer, Office of the Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination, Strategic Planning Division, Bhutan also briefed on the VNRs Report prepared by Bhutan.

Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, Knowledge Economy Expert from Roots International, also deliberated views on SDGs and his efforts through a private education institutions chain for promoting SDGs.

Dr. Saha from India presented detailed overview of Indian efforts to achieve SDGs and told the forum that India got the presidency of G20 group of countries. India has proposed to accelerate the SDGs at G-20 forum which is focusing on large scale transformations and leveraging with those green transitions at various levels, he added.