\nUNITED NATIONS : Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi on Thursday highlighted the socio-economic priorities of the Prime Minister Imran Khan\u2019s government, saying they were in sync with the 2030 global development agenda.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the General Assembly\u2019s second committee which deals with economic and financial matters, Lodhi said that the priorities of new government aim at reviving economy in the country.<\/p>\n
These priorities include revitalizing the economy, uplifting the agriculture sector, providing sustainable and affordable energy, conservation, sustainable use of water resources, ensuring green growth, reform of the governance structure, enhancing accountability, and transformation of the health and education sectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile domestic resource mobilization and greater self-reliance are at the heart of this effort\u201d, Ambassador Lodhi stressed, \u201cWe believe an enabling international environment, greater access to financial resources and technological support remain critical to achieve our priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The challenges faced by multilateralism and rule-based cooperative arrangements can adversely affect the realization of development objectives that the international community has set for itself, she said.<\/p>\n
On corruption and illicit financial flows, Ambassador Lodhi said that accountability and recovery of stolen assets was a corner stone of the agenda of Pakistan\u2019s new government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe firmly believe that enhancing international cooperation is critical to combat illicit financial flows, especially for recovery of stolen assets\u201d, she stressed.<\/p>\n
Dr. Lodhi also underlined the importance attached by Pakistan on effective and efficient management of water resources. She said that as a water stressed country Pakistan was aware of this emerging threat that can undermine its sustainable development gains, retard economic growth and push people back to poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have recently adopted a National Water Policy, offering a comprehensive approach to water issues, which is focused on increasing water storage capacity through a number of large-scale projects,\u201d Ambassador Lodhi said.<\/p>\n
She cited the example of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, and said that once materialized this would serve as a major source for clean energy, drinking water and irrigation.<\/p>\n
She also urged the international community to ensure that people suffering under colonial and foreign occupation are not left behind in the inclusive world envisioned in UN\u2019s 2030 development agenda aimed at ending poverty, fighting inequalities and tackling climate change.<\/p>\n
The ambassador said that colonial and foreign occupation was a huge obstacle to economic and social development, and to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me underline Pakistan\u2019s continued support to people living under colonial domination and foreign occupation,\u201d she said in the Committee\u2019s general debate.<\/p>\n
\u201cA people\u2019s right of self-determination is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the UN Charter,\u201d the Pakistani envoy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we envision an inclusive world in 2030: ensuring that no one is left behind, we must ensure that people under colonial and foreign occupation are not left behind either.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ambassador Lodhi also cited the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a \u201cshining example\u201d of South cooperation, saying the mega project\u2019s scale and scope was enormous, with huge economic and developmental benefits to the two countries, as well as to the region and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS : Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi on Thursday highlighted the socio-economic priorities of the Prime Minister Imran Khan\u2019s government, saying they were in sync with the 2030 global development agenda. Speaking in the General Assembly\u2019s second committee which deals with economic and financial matters, Lodhi said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18921,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-32195","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national","8":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n