United Nations in Pakistan

Pakistan affirmed its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its own national development agenda through a unanimous National Assembly Resolution in 2016. Since then, the country has made considerable progress by mainstreaming these goals in national policies and strategies and developing an institutional framework for SDGs implementation in Pakistan. SDG support units have been established at federal and provincial levels with the planning institutions (Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives and Provincial Planning and Development Departments) to guide SDGs implementation and monitoring it progress. In 2018, the Government designed and approved a National SDGs Framework that envisages a national vision to prioritize and localize SDGs. Localized provincial SDG Frameworks are being formulated. The focus of the government is on mainstreaming SDGs in planning processes, ensuring strong monitoring and reporting on SDGs, ensuring public financial allocations are aligned to SDGs and alternate financing modalities are being explored, and to benefit from use of technology to accelerate progress towards SDGs.

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Publication

02 September 2022

2022 Pakistan Floods Response Plan - FRP

Pakistan has been enduring severe monsoon weather since June 2022, which saw areaweighted rainfall 67 per cent above normal levels in that month alone. As of 27 August, rainfall in the country is equivalent to 2.9 times the national 30-year average. This has caused widespread flooding and landslides, with severe repercussions for human lives, property and infrastructure. To date, 72 districts across Pakistan have been declared ‘calamity hit’ by the
Government of Pakistan. These numbers remain dynamic given the ongoing rains, and the number of calamity-declared districts is expected to increase.

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Story

18 June 2020

Pakistan: Further desert locust damage forecast in coming agricultural seasons

The Government of Pakistan’s preliminary estimate of monetary losses due to desert locusts over the two coming agricultural seasons in 2020 and 2021 may range from US$3.4 billion to $10.21 billion. Locust damage has significantly affected many farmers already, with further significant locust damage forecast at the end of summer. In late January, the Government of Pakistan declared the desert locust a national emergency and set up the National Action Plan for Desert Locust Control and Surveillance and a high-level National Locust Control Centre. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing technical advice and procurement support to the Government for locust surveillance and control activities, including locust threat forecasts and control operation strategies. FAO and the World Food Programme and partners, in coordination with the Government, will access needs in the worst-impacted districts, which have also experienced multiple shocks over the past 18 months, including drought, flash flooding, a cold wave and COVID-19. The Government of Pakistan needs $372 million over the coming three years in additional funding to survey, control and recover from the locust damage. FAO launched the Desert Locust Upsurge Global Response Plan 2020, which includes $12.5 million for Pakistan for crisis response, of which only $1.9 million has been funded. More than 3 million people in Pakistan are facing severe acute food insecurity, with the situation particularly precarious in Balochistan. It is estimated that approximately 34,000 households will need of emergency livelihood and food-security assistance due to crop losses. Many more people may be indirectly affected by crop losses leading to price rises in key commodities.

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16 June 2020

A Coordinated Response to Coronavirus

On Wednesday, 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the coronavirus (COVID-19) viral disease a pandemic, but it is a pandemic that can be controlled. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the UN agency, said, in his statement, “Let me be clear: describing this as a pandemic does not mean that countries should give up.” The UN Secretary-General urged all countries to take a comprehensive approach tailored to their circumstances – with containment as the central pillar. COVID-19 is affecting thousands of people, impacting countries’ health systems and having widespread social and economic effects. The UN entities working on development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, are supporting countries in their preparedness and response plans. This page convenes sources of information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to track the spread and to provide guidance to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak. To stay up to date with the latest information, please visit: United Nations Covid-19 Response: https://www.un.org/coronavirus World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 Latest news on the United Nations’ response: https://news.un.org/en/events/un-news-coverage-coronavirus-outbreak WHO guidance for countries: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd

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Story

20 January 2023

The most vulnerable bear the brunt of climate change

Following the floods that destroyed the mud house she was living in with her family, Zahida, an Afghan refugee living in Quetta, expressed her distress ‘I am in a constant state of fear and anxiety’. She now has no choice but to sleep in the open air with her husband and children. ‘Our children are exposed to direct sun, flies, and dangerous diseases’, she explains. The recent floods have been a catalyst for the risks faced by vulnerable populations of Pakistan. The already marginalised are now exposed to even more precarious situations. Afghan refugees, notably, are already at the margin of the existing social safety nets and lack access to public services and protection mechanisms. They now remain out of the reach of most relief campaigns. Zahida deplores ‘we don’t hold any identity cards, so we are not eligible for many food relief packages or other kinds of support.’ Amongst all, women are even more at risk: those who have taken refuge in ad-hoc refugee centres, for example, are now at higher risk of gender-based violence. Sakina, a mother of five hailing from Quetta, struggles to feed her family. ‘My husband worked in a brick-making workshop’, she explains. ‘The water damaged his factory, and now no work is left for him.’ Though part of her house still stands, she worries about what the future holds for her family. ‘People like us don’t have savings. We consume what we earn in a day.’ On the ground, the existing family and community networks have been able to withstand some of the impacts on the population, with village and neighbourhood structures providing food, water, and shelter whenever possible. But though the water will recede, the effects of the floods will be felt for much longer. Sakina is preparing for difficult times ahead: ‘For weeks, there has been no gas or electricity. With winter approaching, life will become even more difficult for us.’ For immediate response, UNDP Pakistan is rehabilitating 25 school and hospital buildings in Balochistan to facilitate women like Sakina and Zahida. The work entails repairing structures damaged by floods in Nushki and Qila Abdullah in addition to renovation of buildings. In Balochistan UNDP is also working on a pilot initiative allowing communities to discuss their grievances related to climate change with their elected representatives. The pilot, an innovative approach to environmental justice, becomes even more crucial as principles of inclusivity and climate resilience must from now on guide all development efforts. As the United Nations’ lead agency on recovery and reconstruction, UNDP is also working with partners and Government of Pakistan on assessing the flood damage and recovery needs. In both short and long term, UNDP’s recovery programme seeks to support communities to rebuild their homes, find meaningful employment, and strengthen their capacity to mitigate the impact of future crises. *** Story by: Yann Cres, Social Inclusion Senior Expert, Decentralization, Human Rights and Local Governance project, UNDP Pakistan

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14 September 2022

Everyday Heroes – Stories from the Flood

Acres and acres of land is inundated by the floods in Pakistan, with one-third of Sindh (area and population) affected by the devastating floods. More than 1400 lives have been lost and 33 million are directly impacted. Many have lost their homes and everything they owned. Livestock and fields of crops have been wiped out. They have no food, no drinking water, no shelter. They are at increased risk of waterborne diseases, dengue and malnutrition. They have no access to health or education facilities. Life as they knew it has been snatched from them. In the words of the United Nations Secretary-General, “It’s not about numbers. It’s about people, about the farmers that have lost their crops, about those that have lost members of their family, about those that have seen their houses destroyed, about those that have lost their cattle, about those that have no money to pay the loans that they have contracted to be able to plant. It was these people that each one of you was rescuing, helping to escape these horrible floods.” “I come here to serve my people; this is my passion.” – Dr Sumeira Abasi Dr. Sumeira Abasi, a field medical officer in Larkana, Sindh, had been coming to the Taluka Headquarter hospital since the flooding began, and being a mother of three, she lamented that the situation was challenging for her. Even though her home was far and she had to travel through the flood waters that entered inside the rickshaw she travelled in, her spirits were not dampened. There was a time when her own home was flooded, but she did not stop and continued to meet the health care needs of the flood victims within the limited means available to her. As she put it: “I come here to serve my people; this is my passion.” “I rescued about three hundred people” - Mr. Muhammad Shifa Arijo When the ruthless floods hit Larkana, Muhammad Shifa Arijo, Secretary of Union Council Anwar Adab, Larkana, fearlessly and selflessly rushed to help people. He had risked his own life rescuing some 300 people from slums that had been in the path of the raging floodwaters, and subsequently helping to move them to Quaid-e-Awam Engineering University using boats. He had also been given the responsibility of delivering food each day to hundreds of people affected by the floods. Dr. Abasi and Arijo and many others like them, speak of the enormous courage, generosity and solidarity that people have shown during this time of extreme crisis. The mammoth floods were relentless in their destruction, yet these brave men and women went above and beyond and provided timely help, saving hundreds of lives. They need the help of everyone across the world. The world needs to respond with assistance for these innocent people suffering the consequences of a climate change induced catastrophe that they hardly contributed to.

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07 September 2022

UN Women puts women and girls at the heart of flood response in Pakistan

When the recent floods hit Fatimah Gul’s house, everything happened so quickly that she was unable to bring any belongings or food supplies. The elderly widow lost most of her belongings when her village was one of the very first to be hit by floods in Swabi District of the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Photo: UN Women/Aziz Ullah “This sudden flood has destroyed everything in my life,” said Fatimah with tears in her eyes. “I don’t have utensils and clothes. My bed and house are damaged.” She was already living on zakat (charity money) and suddenly left with nothing. She cannot afford to rebuild nor has she any income to survive. Fatimah is one of many women affected by the record floods in Pakistan. Most victims of natural disasters are the poor, and particularly women. The recent climate-changed floods in Pakistan have shown that the country is no exception. Heavy monsoon rains since June have left up to one third of the country under water, affecting 33 million of the country’s estimated 240 million inhabitants. Some 6.4 million people are estimated to need of assistance. Disasters such as this are worse for women, girls, and women with disabilities. They face the biggest challenges including access to humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls are often distinct during disasters. UN Women Pakistan is putting women like Fatimah at the heart of its flood response. So far, UN Women has distributed non-food items for immediate relief, including shelter, kitchen utensils, medical aid, and sanitary products for flood-affected women in Swabi. In addition, providing cash grants worth PKR 20,000 (USD 91) each to the most vulnerable women including young girls, women headed the house, women without income and women with disabilities Another woman from the same village as Fatimah, Romania Bibi, says she feels exposed to danger and her privacy can no longer be maintained. Half of her house was damaged during the floods. “I cannot sleep at night because flood damaged the boundary walls of my house. I am using bed sheets to cover the broken walls,” said Romania. In the coming days, UN Women plans to scale up its flood response to provide life-saving relief in Sindh and Balochistan provinces and the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The scaling services include temporary women’s centres, and services for the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV), with a focus on psychosocial support to GBV survivors. Photo: UN Women/Aziz Ullah Story: UN Women

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کیپشن: موسلادھارمون سون بارشوں کے بعد شمالی پاکستان میں فاطمہ گل کا گھر۔فوٹو: یواین ویمن/عزیزاللہ

Story

08 November 2021

Pakistan celebrates the 76th UN Day with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN Agencies in a ‎colorful ceremony ‎

The 76th anniversary of the United Nations was recently celebrated in a colorful event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Islamabad. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Sohail Mahmood, was the Chief Guest while a video message of the UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres, was featured at the event. The Resident Coordinator, Mr. Julien Harneis, also addressed the audience comprising of heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies based in Islamabad, as well as senior government officials and members of the UN staff. Speaking on the occasion, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role for promoting peace, security, development and human rights for all. The Foreign Secretary highlighted Pakistan’s contributions to the work of the UN including in the areas of peacekeeping, refugee protection, humanitarian action, climate change, and international cooperation for sustainable development. He also thanked all the UN agencies working in Pakistan for advancing its socio-economic development. The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Julien Harneis, appreciated the constant support and assistance of the Government of Pakistan and highlighted the many accomplishments of the UN agencies working in Pakistan in a diversity of sectors. He also talked about the new 5-year plan, the UN Sustainable Development Framework 2023-2027 and how every effort was being made to ensure that it had realistic action plans that align with the needs of the people of Pakistan, the directions of the government and the support of the member states and development partners. A youth representative also shared her views on the expectations from the United Nations for meeting contemporary challenges. Many UN agencies set up displays around the venue to showcase their products and interventions in the areas of health, food security, environmental protection, capacity-building and socio-economic development. These exhibits invited a great deal of interest from the guests and served as an opportunity to showcase the many interventions and accomplishments of the UN in Pakistan. Photo Credit: UNDP

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30 May 2021

Pakistan ramps up Protected Areas

From the Himalayas in the north to the deserts of Balochistan in the west, to the mangroves of Sindh in the south, Pakistan’snatural diversity is spellbinding, but it is also under threat. In 2018, only 12 per cent of the country was classed as an environmentally protected area. According to Bloomberg, it was one of the six countries in the world most at risk from climate change. The country had one of the lowest forest covers in the region, with only 5 per cent cover. This was compared to a global average of 31 per cent. This put the country at increased risk from environmental dangers such as flooding, melting glaciers and droughts. However, change is underway. In 2020, Pakistan’s government launched the ‘Protected Area Initiative’ which aims to increase protected areas such as national parks, wetlands and wildlife reserves to 15 per cent of the country’s total area by 2023. In the last two years, protected area coverage has already increased to 13.9 per cent and further progress looks assured. Pakistan is following a global trend, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) flagship report Protected Planet. Since 2010, 21 million km2of protected and conserved areas, or 42 per cent of the global total, has been added. “Protected areas offer a range of environmental benefits – they safeguard biodiversity by protecting plant and animal habitats; protect against climate change by building resilience to natural disasters and providing carbon storage, and can help maintain food and water security,” said Susan Gardner, Director of UNEP’s Ecosystems division. “Their positive impact also extends to economies as protected areas can drive eco-tourism and create green jobs in developing countries.” Sustainable Protected Areas While the growth of protected areas is a welcome development, as the Pakistan government is aware, in order for them to be effective, the areas must be managed and controlled. While globally the target of 17 per cent of land protection has been met (Pakistan is behind the global average), less than 8 per cent, against a target of 10 per cent, of coastal and marine areas have been conserved. Pakistan’s national parks date back to 1972 with the creation of Lal Suhanra, one of South Asia’s largest. Lal Suhanara is now one of Pakistan’s 31 parks which include desert, mountains, wetlands and coastal ecosystems. They are home to a wide array of species including the elusive and endangered snow leopard. However, many had fallen into disrepair and were parks and protected areas only in name. Part of the Protected Area Initiative is to ensure that these valuable environmental areas are operating and functional. “It is key for Pakistan to not only increase the protected areas but to ensure that all areas that are protected are more than just paper parks. By this we mean they are fully functioning with community buy-in and staff to operate and protect them,” said Dr. Raja Omer, the Deputy Inspector General (Forests) in Pakistan. In order to do this Pakistan is adding 7000 jobs to manage and work in the parks, a key boost after job losses due to COVID-19. UNEP’s Protected Planet Report 2020 finds that in order to be fully effective, jobs in protected areas must draw from and benefit the local communities and fully embrace women at all levels of planning and implementation. “These jobs will ensure community buy-in and agency for the protected areas,” said Dr. Omer. As Pakistan prepares to hold World Environment Day on June 5, in partnership with UNEP, the country continues to make positive progress. Last year Prime Minister Khan announced the creation of nine new National Parks and the rehabilitation of a further six. Pakistan aims to have at least seven of its national parks registered under the IUCN 'Green List of Protected Areas,' the gold standard for conservation. “We have made good progress and we are confident we will meet our targets,” said Dr. Omer. Story via UNEP

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Press Release

31 January 2023

Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Peshawar, Pakistan

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President ISHIKANE Kimihiro (Japan): The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly suicide terrorist attack at a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, on 30 January 2023. The attack took place in the Police Lines area of Peshawar where Police Headquarters and counter-terrorism officials are based. The attack was claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) and resulted in the deaths of at least 63 Pakistanis with over 150 injured. The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Pakistan, and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan, as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard. The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

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Press Release

31 January 2023

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 30 January 2023

UNODC PRESS RELEASE Inauguration ceremony of eight-week maritime training courses and mentoring sessions commenced in Karachi KARACHI (30 January 2023): United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office in Pakistan (COPAK) organized an inauguration ceremony of an eight-week maritime training and mentoring session in Karachi. Ms. Humaira Ahmed – Federal Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The ceremony was also attended by Major General Aneeq Malik – Director General of the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF); Mr. Muhammad Yaqoob Mako – Chief Collector (Operations), Pakistan Customs Enforcement (South) Karachi, Mr. Usman Bajwa – Customs Collector (Preventive) Karachi; Brigadier Ghulam Abbas – Director General Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) Karachi; Mr. Liam O’Flanagan – Deputy Consul General of United States of America’s Consulate in Karachi; and Dr. Jeremy Milsom – Representative of UNODC COPAK. The inauguration ceremony marked the commencement of eight-week’s of bulk-carrier search and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) training courses to be held in Karachi from 30 January to 24 March 2023. These training and mentoring sessions are being conducted under the framework of UNODC’s project entitled ‘Improved National Response against Drugs and Contraband Trafficking in the Maritime Domain’ – funded by the United States State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Pakistan (INL-P). More specifically, five training courses will be delivered by Master Trainers of the PCG, Pakistan Customs, and the ANF – who were trained in VBSS and Bulk-Carrier Search by UNODC in Seychelles and Cape Town, South Africa in 2022. The Pakistani Master Trainers will be mentored by two international trainers of UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP). This series of training and mentoring sessions aims to further refine the technical skills of the Pakistani Master Trainers and to also provide training to an additional sixty fresh trainees from the PCG, Pakistan Customs and ANF on boarding operations and vessel search techniques. While warmly welcoming the participants, Dr. Jeremy Milsom, Representative UNODC COPAK apprised the forum that UNODC had closely engaged with the Ministry of Narcotics Control during the design and implementation of this INL-funded project since October 2020. The project aims to address Pakistan’s priority capacity-building needs in the maritime domain. “UNODC COPAK adopts a holistic approach to support the Government of Pakistan in addressing various drugs and crime challenges, encompassing both domestic and transnational issues. Our ongoing Pakistan Country Programme III (2022-2025) complements the Government of Pakistan policies and programmes, focusing on drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction, rule of law and criminal justice, and counterterrorism. We are also promoting the Government of Pakistan’s regional and international cooperation in these areas”, said Dr Milsom. Through a comprehensive presentation, Mr. David O’Connell, GMCP’s Programme Coordinator updated the participants about several capacity development interventions by UNODC under the INL-funded maritime security project. He elaborated upon the successful conduct of five VBBS training courses and six Bulk-Carrier Search training courses conducted by UNODC GMCP in Seychelles and South Africa. Seventy-four law enforcement officials (including 12 Master Trainers) of the PCG, Pakistan Customs, and the ANF were trained through these specialized training courses. “This specialized training was based on international best practices on engaging and boarding suspicious vessels at sea or in port and carrying out search and apprehension of drug traffickers and contraband smugglers in compliance with national and international maritime law”, said Mr. O’Connell. In his remarks, Mr. Liam O’Flanagan, Deputy Consul General of the United States of America’s Consulate in Karachi, thanked Pakistan for making concerted counternarcotics efforts, as one of the main transit countries neighboring Afghanistan. He acknowledged the role played by the ANF and other Pakistani border law enforcement agencies and noted that “there is a need to further enhance Pakistan’s technical capacity – to proactively detect, deter and disrupt drug trafficking”. He also recognized the close partnership between Pakistan and the United States of America against drug proliferation. In her closing remarks, Ms. Humaira Ahmed – Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Narcotics Control thanked UNODC and the INL for their vision and continuing capacity development, which had previously led to the successful implementation of a series of specialized training courses in Seychelles and South Africa. She highlighted that Pakistan was long exposed to the negative and wide-ranging consequences of the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from Afghanistan. She stressed the importance of improving national countermeasures, as envisioned in Pakistan’s Anti Narcotics Policy 2019. “Pakistan continues to play a crucial role as the first line of defence for the rest of the world against the massive outflow of opiates, synthetic drugs, and new psychotropic substances from Afghanistan. Given the uncertain political situation in Afghanistan, we strongly feel that there is a need to continue such capacity development initiatives by UNODC and the INL in the future”, said Ms. Humaira Ahmed. Sixty fresh trainees of the ANF, PCG, and Pakistan Customs will be trained through this 8-Week mentoring session, adding additional tools to the range of skills available to Pakistani maritime law enforcement agencies in working to protect the region and wider international community from the threat posed by illicit drug trafficking and contraband smuggling through Pakistan’s maritime domain. For further information or media enquiries please contact: Ms Rizwana Rahool, Communication Officer; Cell: +923018564255; Fax: + 92-51-2601469; Email: rizwana.rahool@un.org UNHCR PRESS RELEASE UNHCR, UNFPA, and UNICEF work together for flood-affected communities In the aftermath of floods in Pakistan, a strengthened partnership between UN agencies aims to improve the protection environment for vulnerable groups Islamabad, Pakistan – 30 January 2023: UNHCR, the UN Agency Refugee Agency signed two agreements with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, to improve the protection environment for refugee and host communities affected by the devastating floods, especially children and women. The partnership comes at a time when swathes of Pakistan remain under water, including entire villages and farmlands. Thousands have been displaced, while others have returned to find their homes destroyed and key water, sanitation, and health infrastructure non-existent. In Sindh province, some affected communities can only be reached by boat, their continued isolation compounding their needs, forcing families to make impossible choices. Both child marriage and violence against children have increased in some of the most affected districts. As the climate crisis is ratcheting up, extreme weather is wearing down the resilience of communities in Pakistan hit by repeated disasters, including in terms of protection. Findings from assessments indicate that in the most affected province, Sindh, 85 percent of key informants indicated that their community members do not have knowledge of gender-based violence services, more than 50 percent are experiencing psycho-social distress and 60 percent are not accessing treatment. “The scale of destruction after the floods is huge, and protection needs among children and women are still growing.” according to UNHCR Representative to Pakistan, Noriko Yoshida. “Together our partnership with UNFPA and UNICEF will strengthen the collective response, as part of UN-wide efforts" Planned joint activities with UNICEF include the distribution of 250,000 dignity kits for women and girls of reproductive age, child protection activities and mental health awareness raising campaigns and community-based activities, bolstering the capacity of District Child Protection Units with caseworkers and psychologists, in addition to mapping available services in affected communities with a particular focus on survivors of violence for case referrals and adequate response. UNFPA activities include the distribution of 20,000 dignity kits, establishing and strengthening Gender-Based Violence (GBV) referral mechanisms of cases, setting up and operating women and girls’ friendly spaces to reduce risks and prevent further harm during after the emergency, community mobilization and outreach campaigns for GBV awareness and sensitization among community members, mapping of available services for survivors, enhancing skills of front-line GBV staff assisting communities, as well as lifesaving GBV response services such as health, psycho-social support, case management and referrals for GBV survivors. “After the devastating floods, women and girls continue to be at risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. They must be able to access services critical to their health and survival. UNFPA’s priority is to ensure women and girls have access to lifesaving reproductive health and protection services even in the midst of an emergency, said Dr. Luay Shabaneh. The agreement is expected to continue in 2023 and is aimed to facilitate the transfer of resources from one UN entity to another UN entity to reach the most affected communities under the “One-UN”. Media contact Mr. Qaiser Khan Afridi, UNHCR Pakistan Spokesperson, +92-300-5018696

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Press Release

26 January 2023

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 25 January 2023

OHCHR MEDIA ADVISORY Pakistan’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review GENEVA (25 January 2023) – Pakistan’s human rights record will be examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the fourth time on Monday 30 January, in a meeting that will be webcast live. Pakistan is one of the States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session from 23 January to 3 February. Pakistan’s first, second and third UPR reviews took place in May 2008, October 2012 and November 2017, respectively. The documents on which the reviews are based re: 1) national report - information provided by the State under review; 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and civil society groups. The three reports serving as the basis for the review of Pakistan on 30 January can be found here. Location: Room 20, Palais des Nations, Geneva Time and date: 9:00–12:30, Monday, 30 January 2023 (Geneva time, GMT +1 hour) The UPR is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN member States have been reviewed thrice within the first, second and third UPR cycles. During the fourth UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous review,s which they committed to follow up on, and highlight recent human rights developments in the country. The delegation of Pakistan will be led by Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of Pakistan are Gambia, Nepal and Argentina. The webcast of the session will be at https://media.un.org/en/search/categories/meetings-events/human-rights-council The list of speakers and all available statements to be delivered during the review of Pakistan will be posted on the UPR Extranet. The UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to Pakistan at 15.30 on 1 February. The State under review may wish to express its positions on recommendations posed to it during its review. For more information and media requests, please contact Rolando Gómez, HRC Media Officer, at rolando.gomez@un.org, Matthew Brown, HRC Public Information Officer, at matthew.brown@un.org, or Pascal Sim, HRC Public Information Officer, at simp@un.org. To learn more about the Universal Periodic Review, visit https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-main. UN Human Rights Council, follow us on social media: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram UNODC PRESS RELEASE Launch ceremony of Precursor Management System (PMS) – an online portal for registering and applying NOC for importing controlled precursor chemicals, by the industry 25 January 2023, Islamabad - The Ministry of Narcotics launched its newly automated Precursor Management System – an online portal for registering and applying ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ for importing controlled precursor chemicals by the industry. This newly automated system has been technically supported by UNODC, through funding support by the Government of Japan. The formal launch ceremony was chaired by Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti – Federal Minister for Narcotics Control. Other high-ranking participants included Federal Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control, Chairman of Pakistan Chemical manufacturers Association (PCMA), and Representative of UNODC Country Office Pakistan (COPAK). Officials from various federal ministries and line departments, senior representatives from the industry and the civil society and international donor representatives also attended the ceremony. While warmly welcoming the participants, Dr. Jeremy Milsom, Representative UNODC Country Office in Pakistan highlighted that the new web-based Precursor Management System has significantly enhanced capacities of these national authorities – to collect or receive, process, interpret data and approve requests related to import and legitimate industrial use of controlled precursor chemicals – in a more secure and real-time manner. “This technical capacity-building initiative will improve Pakistan’s precursor control regime and improve ‘ease-of-doing business’ for the Pakistani chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Hence, this capacity development has paved the way for attaining objectives of Government of Pakistan’s Anti Narcotics Policy 2019, and our shared aspirations under the provisions of UNODC’s Pakistan Country Programme III (2022-2025)”, said Dr. Milsom. A comprehensive presentation on the PMS was delivered by Mr. Sabino Sikandar Jalal – Senior Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Narcotics Control. He apprised the participants design and functioning of web-based information management and application processing system, that has replaced manual processing system, focusing public companies’ registration, requests for importing controlled precursor chemicals for industrial use, issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’, and submission of utilization details of imported controlled chemicals. In his remarks, Mr. Zafar Mahmood – Former Chairman of the PCMA expressed satisfaction over the newly automated Pakistan’s Precursor Management System. He highlighted that one of the leading objectives of the PCMA was to anticipate, suggest, and respond to Government of Pakistan’s regulatory policy and practices. “The PCMA is committed to attracting new investments and improving Pakistan’s chemical exports. We continue endeavors to achieve competitiveness through sustainable growth and adoption of global best practices, in close coordination with the Government of Pakistan”, said Mr. Mahmood In her remarks, Ms. Humaira Ahmed, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control highlighted that the newly automated Precursor Management System is a manifestation of Government of Pakistan’s broader vision, to automate the entire process of registration and issuance of ‘No-Objection Certificate (NOC)’ to the chemical and pharmaceutical industry for importing, exporting and utilizing controlled precursor chemicals. “The requests for grant of NOC can now be generated electronically and all steps (including document submission, utilization details and import licenses) have also been automated. It will also significantly improve transparency and trust among the public-private stakeholders concerned”, she said. In his closing address, Nawabzada Shazain Bugti, Federal Minister for Narcotics Control thanked UNODC for its continued technical support, that led to design and automation of Pakistan’s Precursor Management System. He highlighted that the upgradation is the centerpiece of Government of Pakistan’s modernization drive, and it has greatly contributed towards Government’s long-term goals and objectives. “The Government of Pakistan is committed to strengthening its precursor control regime – in pursuance of our commitments to address the World Drug Problem – under the principle of common and shared responsibility. This upgradation has enabled the Ministry of Narcotics Control in drug regulation, and countering drug abuse and associated health issues affecting the young Pakistani strata, particularly in educational settings”, said Mr. Bugti. Despite limited resources and technological and research gaps, the Government of Pakistan has been taking concrete measures both at the policy and operational levels. Pakistan’s National Anti-Narcotics Council is chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, that comprises several federal and provincial ministries and law enforcement agencies. Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019 envisions strong drug demand reduction, supply reduction, and international cooperation. The Policy also envisions to develop an effective drug monitoring and intelligence system – for undertaking necessary supply and demand reduction activities in the affected areas and communities. For further information or media enquiries please contact: Ms Rizwana Rahool, Communication Officer; Email: rizwana.rahool@un.org, Cell: 03018564255

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Press Release

26 January 2023

Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 26 January 2023

UNODC PRESS RELEASE U.S. Embassy funded Improving Rule of Law in Balochistan program successfully executed by UNODC Islamabad, Pakistan 26 January 2023 – U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome today joined United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) Representative Jeremy Milsom and Balochistan Police Inspector General Abdul Khalique Sheikh to celebrate the successful completion of a $4,578,696 Improving Rule of Law Program in Balochistan, funded by the U.S. Embassy and executed by UNODC. The five-year program commenced in February 2017 and concluded in December 2022. A closing ceremony was held in Islamabad to celebrate the journey and achievements of this important intervention. In his remarks Ambassador Blome said “Today we recognize the completion of a six-year effort between the United States, Balochistan, and UNODC. In 2017 the United States was the sole funder for this project, providing $4.5 million for the Improving Rule of Law in Balochistan project. Over the past 75 years, the United States has invested more than a billion dollars to strengthen Pakistan’s civilian law enforcement capacity and keep Pakistani citizens safe. This has included training for more than 120,000 Pakistani police officers, incorporating international standards for crime response, investigations, and handling of evidence into their courses. We contributed to the construction of over 230 border posts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In Balochistan, we have provided over $20 million to purchase bullet proof vests, helmets, and vehicles to enhance law enforcement operations and keep officers safe while fighting crime.” Ambassador Blome also highlighted U.S. flood assistance, adding “To date, we have committed more than $200 million in flood-response, disaster resilience, and food security assistance. Our support includes urgently needed food, safe water, sanitation and hygiene improvements, financial help, and shelter assistance. It also includes work with the Balochistan Police, including replacing police stations destroyed in the floods and providing a new wall and drainage system to better protect the Balochistan Police Training College in Quetta. We are doing what friends and partners do in times of hardship – support each other.” In his opening remarks, Mr. Jeremy Milsom, Country Representative, UNODC Country Office in Pakistan highlighted UNODC’s continued support towards improving the rule of law sector in Balochistan. He thanked U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) section for its support and appreciated the Government of Balochistan’s collaboration towards strengthening and reforming criminal justice institutions in the province. The Program aimed to enhance the technical and operational capacity of the Balochistan Police through training sessions on crime scene investigation, forensic examination skills, and the provision of modern equipment. Improved cooperation between police and prosecution for better justice outcome remained a core component of the Program. UNODC under INL funding equipped the Crime Branch of Balochistan Police with 10 Mobile Crime Scene Units, 2,250 First Responders and 250 Crime Scene Kits, as well as the renovation of Balochistan’s Forensic Science Lab. Furthermore, four Forensic Collection Units to transport evidence were also established. This has been demonstrated by Ms. Jouhaida Hanano, Advisor, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Program, UNODC during her presentation on program achievements. UNODC also supported the INL Program in the area of policy reforms and provided technical assistance to Balochistan Police Training Branch in needs assessment and analysis for capacity building. Specialized modules were developed, and 5517 officials were trained on multiple policing functions. Similarly, to improve citizens-state trust, the Balochistan Police, in coordination with UNODC, developed a Community Policing Policy and Plan aiming to enhance citizen trust, police response, and mutual accountability in the prevention and control of crimes, specifically against vulnerable groups. In his closing remarks, Mr. Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Inspector General of Police Balochistan expressed his profound gratitude to U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) “Rule of Law” Program in Balochistan. He said, “These wide-reaching initiatives have made a lasting impact in the lives of common citizens. This program was a perfect arrangement where INL and UNODC extended a helping hand in areas not taken care of by government finances and beneficiaries. I would like to acknowledge and appreciate a successful completion of this five-year program in Balochistan. This has set the stage and created an enabling environment where we have further built on it by adding community policing initiative.” He conveyed his appreciation towards INL and UNODC for their invariable support and further stated that he was confident that this assistance and effort will go a long way in making Balochistan Police more responsive. The closing ceremony highlighted major successes and the impact of the INL funded program along with challenges and lessons learned. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a handover presentation of the Forensic Evidence Collection Units was held between U.S. Ambassador Blome and the Balochistan Police. For further information or media enquiries please contact: Ms Rizwana Rahool, Communication Officer; Cell: +923018564255; Fax: + 92-51-2601469; Email: rizwana.rahool@un.org

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