Meeting of Minister of State for Finance & Revenue with Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program
The Resident Representative, UNDP, Mr. Knut Ostby called on the Minister of State for Finance & Revenue, Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha at Finance Division today.
Mr. Ostby briefed the Minister of State on the ongoing UNDP portfolio and shared the findings of the report on leveraging private investment for Pakistan’s sustainable development. The report offers a strategic partnership model for raising global institutional impact investments worth $ 2 billion in the next three years in Pakistan. He stated that overall Pakistan offers private investment opportunity of $ 100 in sectors of clean and green environment, transport and logistics, technology and communication, health and education.
Minister of State Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha appreciated the key role of UNDP as development partner in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She reiterated the commitment of government of Pakistan on achievement of SDGs. She emphasized that SDGs are our own commitment to the people of Pakistan for ensuring their betterment and prosperity. She stated that the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising global commodity prices have shrunk the fiscal space for developing countries to allocate adequate resources for sustainable development.Therefore, the need for involvement of private sector to bridge the financing gap for sustainable development is critical to achieve the SDGs.
Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha stated that human capital investments including priority sectors like gender equality, population planning, education, nutrition and water will bring benefits for the sustainable development. She assured full support of the Ministry of Finance for the proposed SDGs Project Development Facility to leverage private capital. She appreciated the work being done by the UNDP on SDGs Investment Map for Pakistan and encouraged UNDP to complete it at the earliest.
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