AS the New Year beckons, and the world begins to count down the final six years of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, our shared vision of decisive progress towards sustainable development everywhere stands at a precipice. The ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — launched in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all — are slipping out of reach.In recognition of this grave danger, UN Secretary General António Guterres has declared a “global emergency”, underscoring the urgent need for bold and transformative actions. The recently adopted UN Pact for the Future provides a renewed framework for re-energising Agenda 2030. Specifically, member states have reaffirmed their commitment to closing the SDG financing gap, through scaling up official development assistance, combating illicit financial flows, and mobilising domestic and private resources.Pakistan exemplifies the struggle of low- and middle-income countries trapped in a web of debt, climate vulnerability, and under-investment in human development. Ranked 137th out of 166 nations in the UN Sustainable Development Report 2024, Pakistan’s SDG performance is off track. While modest improvements are noted in some areas, eight out of the 17 SDGs show stagnation, and three are regressing.Gains that are made in human development terms are literally washed away by the effects of climate change on a regular basis.An estimated 40 per cent of Pakistan’s population — approximately 97 million people — lives in poverty, with women disproportionately bearing the impact. Twenty-six million children do not go to school and half of the women population cannot read or write. Forty per cent of children under five are stunted.These figures represent the enormous challenges Pakistan has to overcome to achieve sustainable development and improve the living standards of its people. While Pakistan has made progress in 2024 towards macroeconomic stabilisation, with inflation dropping to a six-year low, the financing gap for achieving the SDGs in the country remains staggering: a conservative projection puts it at around $60 billion annually, which is 16pc of GDP. The price tag of turning such indicators of deprivation around, and meeting the SDGs, dwarfs the country’s revenue base.Without alternative sources of finance, we fear Agenda 2030 will not be accomplished.As of September 2024, Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities stood at an estimated $308.2bn, representing 81.2pc of GDP. Of this, total external debt and liabilities amounted to $133.4bn. Debt servicing costs the government over half of its annual budget, leaving little room for investments in development priorities. Every dollar allocated to debt repayment is a dollar denied to building schools, improving healthcare, or mitigating the impacts of climate change. These issues are critical not only to human development in Pakistan, but also to the country’s future economic growth and prosperity.Pakistan’s challenges are compounded by the global climate crisis it did not create. Gains that are made in human development terms are literally washed away by the effects of climate change on a regular basis. Contributing less than 1pc to global emissions, Pakistan is among the top 10 nations that are most vulnerable to climate change. The devastating floods of 2022, which submerged more than 10pc of the country, served as a stark reminder of how the Global South bears the brunt of a crisis driven by the industrialised world. Pakistan is obliged to take on more debt to recover from, and attempt to build resilience to, disasters caused by consumption patterns far away, perpetuating a cycle of dependency and vulnerability.In the face of its SDG financing gap, it is time to consider bold options.A six-year standstill on the Pakistan government’s external debt repayments would be one pragmatic and morally compelling solution. It would free up an estimated $108bn, providing the fiscal breathing room needed to invest in re-energising Agenda 2030 in Pakistan. With these resources, Pakistan could widen social safety nets, lifting an estimated 10m out of extreme poverty;reduce maternal and infant mortality; improve schoolenrolment rates; andinvest in climate resilience to protect millions from future shocks.Critics will argue that implementing a debt standstill is fraught with challenges. Multilateral creditors may resist, citing preferred creditor status. Bilateral lenders may be reluctant to create a precedent. Private creditors may fear losses on bonds.These concerns are valid, but not insurmountable. Indeed, the world came together during the Covid-19 crisis to implement not dissimilar debt standstills. Let us recognise that the remaining six-year window to deliver Agenda 2030 represents a crossroads that is equally perilous. And, of course, any debt standstill arrangement would require a robust governance framework be put in place to ensure that funds freed are transparently allocated to SDG priorities, with clear accountability mechanisms to ensure proper use.Short of a full standstill, a break on interest payments can also be considered. Other countries have also experimented with “debt for development swap” arrangements.The UN’s Pact for the Future provides a unique opportunity to align global priorities with the needs of vulnerable nations. Its call to mobilise resources comprehensively to galvanise progress towards achieving Agenda 2030 in this last six years must be heeded.Let Pakistan breathe. Let it invest in its people and its future. And let this moment mark the beginning of a new era of global solidarity, where no nation is left behind in the quest for sustainable development. We are on the final stretch for the SDGs. It is time to be bold.Mohamed Yahya is the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan.Bilal Azhar Kayani is a member of the National Assembly and the convener of the National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs.Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024, filtered_html

As the sun rises over the desert of Tharparkar, the small village of Chehlar begins to wake up under a blistering sky. Despite the harsh heat, the people of Chehlar continue their daily routines. Parveen, 39, a mother of two, has already prepared a simple breakfast for her family and sent her daughters to school, which is miles away. Now, she gathers her materials, pamphlets, and tools for her session at the local health house.Today, in her role as a lady health worker, Parveen will meet with a group of women who have walked, some for over an hour along with their children, to address a diarrhea outbreak in the village. Poor sanitation and lack of clean water have made many sick, and there is a risk of acute malnutrition if the situation persists. Sitting in a circle in the stifling heat, the women listen attentively to Parveen.“It is important to wash hands frequently,” she advises. “If you don’t have access to clean water, boil it before drinking, and eat soft foods such as potatoes, boiled rice, and lentils to boost your immune system.” During the session, Parveen records the names of those needing further examination and prepares to refer them to the nearby health center for nutrition assistance. She then checks the children for malnutrition, using a simple tape measure around their upper arms. Today, an eight-month-old boy shows signs of severe undernourishment. His mother watches anxiously as Parveen gently reassures her, offering guidance on nutrition and registering the child for additional care.This is just one part of Parveen’s work. For 24 years, she has walked from home to home, teaching mothers how to prepare nutritious meals and reminding them about vaccinations.“At first, people didn’t trust me,” Parveen says. “But over time, they saw that I was here to help. Now they respect me, and they listen.”Lady health workers like Parveen are lifelines in their communities, bridging the gap between households and healthcare systems. They teach families essential health practices, guiding mothers on hygiene, and nutrition and preparing meals that improve family diets. Parveen’s expertise developed under the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Surge programme, equips her to assess malnutrition, monitor pregnant women, and coach new mothers.The CMAM Surge approach, launched in Umerkot in 2021 and now expanded to Tharparkar, strengthens health systems in regions with high malnutrition rates. Funded by the European Union and implemented by WFP and Concern Worldwide, the programme provides tools and training to health workers like Parveen, who help detect malnutrition and link communities to critical care. This model, embedded across 12 health centers, enables responsive, effective care during seasonal surges of malnutrition caused by poverty, limited clean water, and high vulnerability to infections and drought. Since Pakistan’s Lady Health Worker (LHW) was launched in 1994, it has empowered community health champions in underserved areas, setting a global standard for grassroots health. LHWs like Parveen are crucial in spotting malnutrition early and establishing reliable referral networks to ensure families get timely help, especially during crises. In the past year, Parveen has referred 180 malnutrition cases to the Basic Health Unit in Chehlar, providing each with dedicated follow-up.Prepared for any emergency, from floods to disease outbreaks, Parveen carries her essential health kit — fetoscope, measuring tape, weight scale — delivering accurate, prompt care wherever needed.“This new way of doing things has really improved the system,” Parveen says.She glances at the women still gathered around her, their faces reflecting the heat but also hope. “Now, when we send someone to the health facility, they know who to go to, and they get the right care. The link between us and the hospital is much stronger.”— — Anam Abbas , filtered_html

Waterborne diseases, and the resulting loss of life, are widespread and further compounded by the scarcity of water testing and monitoring resources – crucial to safeguarding drinking water. Working together over the past three years, UNOPS, the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the government of Pakistan have upgraded 45 laboratories across the country. We had old equipment and didn’t have the right equipment. It used to take around a week to test a water sample. But now, thanks to the new equipment UNOPS and KOICA have provided, we can test water samples quickly and get the results in just a few hours: Farah Naz - Senior Research Officer, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Islamabad Through the $4.5 million project, UNOPS procured and installed state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and upgraded the facilities of Public Health Engineering Departments, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources to ensure safe environments that support efficiency. Capacity at the water testing labs was developed via training for the Ministry of Climate Change and the rollout of a management information system. Remote areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province have never had local water testing facilities. To address this challenge, eight vehicles were remodelled to serve as mobile testing laboratories. “These mobile laboratories can travel to remote areas where there are no facilities to test the water quality. They can collect samples and test the water for pollutants. UNOPS has also provided us with management information system software to help make our operations paperless and more efficient,” said Shahid Sohail Khan, Secretary Public Health and Engineering Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project is set to benefit over 60 million people across Pakistan.Story: UNOPS Pakistan , filtered_html

By working together, we can build a future where no child is subjected to the horrors of trafficking and every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and supportive environment," emphasized Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of the National Commission on Rights of Child (NCRC). "We have to act fast to ensure that no child is left behind," she added.In an unprecedented collaborative effort, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), alongside the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), came together to commemorate World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2024 in Islamabad. The event, held under the global theme “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” highlighted the collective commitment to protect children and reduce their vulnerability to trafficking.“Children are particularly vulnerable of trafficking for several reasons, including poverty, lack of access to education, humanitarian crises or lack of support networks”, said Uqbaan Khan, one of the student while talking to FIA in the margins of the commemoration of the TIP Day. Many passionate students from the National University of Moder-in Languages (NUML) Rawalpindi shared powerful messages to raise awareness. Their voices added a vibrant and inspiring dimension to the day's activities, emphasizing the urgency of protecting children from trafficking. https://fb.watch/tFBvdM8EIV/?mibextid=w8EBqM Approximately 100 participants from across Pakistan joined to discuss the urgent issue of child trafficking and emphasize the protection of children’s rights. Children represent a significant proportion of trafficking victims globally, with girls disproportionately affected. Rising inequalities and globalization have fueled complex trafficking networks, further exposing children to exploitation via online platforms.The event aimed to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of child trafficking in Pakistan while highlighting the collaborative efforts of various organizations. National partners and stakeholders were recognized for their significant contributions to combating human trafficking.Ms Shahida Gilani read the message of UNODC Executive Director , “This year’s theme focuses on child victims, which have tripled over the past 15 years. According to UNODC’s data, globally, children account for one-third of trafficking victims, suffering unspeakable abuse.”While the Director ILO emphasized the urgent need to combat human trafficking, particularly its impact on children. “With 3.3 million children trafficked worldwide, it is crucial for state systems to adopt integrated approaches that prioritize child protection”, the Senior Programme Coordinator at IOM, highlighted the importance of stronger partnerships and improved migration management.The Executive Director of SSDO and the Head of Office at ICMPD both emphasized the need for a systematic approach to victim identification and support. They highlighted the importance of increased prosecutions, better labor inspections, and enhanced public awareness to effectively address and prevent trafficking. They also underscored the necessity of collaborative frameworks to combat human trafficking, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that no child falls through the cracks and that every child is protected from exploitation and harm.As the main stakeholders in the efforts by international agencies and civil society, government representatives Director General FIA Mr. Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir (PSP) and Abbas Ahsan, Additional Director General of FIA, spoke on the TIP Day. Director General FIA added, “Human trafficking, particularly child trafficking, is a serious human rights violation that demands our unwavering attention and action. Our work is significantly enhanced through collaboration with our esteemed partners.” And “Our society and law enforcement must acknowledge what constitutes trafficking, its prevalence in Pakistan, and its impact on children,” emphasized Additional Director General, underscoring the serious nature of child trafficking.  , filtered_html