Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 29 August 2023

UNIC

PRESS RELEASE

United Nations organizes third of 12 dialogues

about sustainable development in Hyderabad

More than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities outside of the federal

and provincial capitals United will discuss development priorities across the country.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 29 August 2023 - Today the third of a series of 12 dialogues on sustainable development was held in Hyderabad, Sindh, by the United Nations and the district administration.

In total, more than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities across six provinces and territories will discuss the development challenges which they face, and how they impede economic and social progress in their districts. The dialogues will be held in the different languages spoken across Pakistan in the coming weeks.

“These dialogues will help United Nations agencies better understand which development issues local leaders see as their priorities outside of the federal and provincial capitals,” said Julien Harneis, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan. “We are actively listening to their concerns and to their ideas for bringing about effective progress in their communities. They are telling us how they would like to work together, and with us, on accelerating progress to bridge inequalities and reduce poverty. We will share their suggestions with the Government as we focus on returning to sustainable development.”

In Hyderabad, the discussions focused on four topics chosen by the participants ahead of the event: the cost of gender-based violence; food insecurity; access to basic social services with a focus on water, sanitation and hygiene; and youth employment.

Nearly 100 local leaders -- women and men, including youth -- participated together with senior Hyderabad officials, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and other UN staff.

The 12 dialogues are engaging local leaders around development issues such as access to basic social services; gender equality and women’s empowerment; climate change; sustainable, inclusive economic growth and decent work; and governance. All are key to Pakistan’s progress towards the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Last week the first two dialogues took place in Bahawalpur and Multan, South Punjab.

The dialogues will help inform discussions ahead of the global SDG Summit which the UN is organizing to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, halfway of the 2030 deadline. The Government of Pakistan will participate in the event in New York on 18 and 19 September 2023.

The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, are 17 objectives designed to help bring about peace and prosperity for people all over the world. They are an urgent call for action by all countries to work together towards ending poverty while improving health and education, reducing inequality, spurring economic growth and tackling climate change.

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Note to editors

About the SDGs: Urdu: https://pakistan.un.org/ur/sdgs, English: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

§  About Pakistan’s SDG Secretariat: www.sdgpakistan.pk

§  About the global SDG Summit: https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023

§  About the UN in Pakistan: Urdu: https://pakistan.un.org/ur, English: https://pakistan.un.org/en

§  Cooperation framework between the UN and Pakistan:

https://pakistan.un.org/en/206433-united-nations-sustainable-development-cooperation-framework-unsdcf-2023-2027-pakistan

Follow the UN in Pakistan online:

https://twitter.com/UNinPak

www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsPakistan

www.instagram.com/uninpak

For more information, please contact the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Pakistan:

Catherine Weibel: catherine.weibel@un.org, +92 300 854 0058

Mahvash Haider Ali: mahvash.ali@un.org, +92 319 071 2828

FAO

PRESS RELEASE

New FAO Office in Hyderabad Helps Strengthen Partnerships for Agriculture

Hyderabad (August 29th, 2023) - the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) inaugurated a new provincial office in Tando Jam, Hyderabad District, on Monday, August 28,2023 marking a significant milestone and a new partnership to drive positive change in communities.

“Universities and academia play a key role to help shape sustainable agricultural practices through research and innovation,” said Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri, Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam who attended the ceremony.

This new FAO provincial office underscores the Organization's commitment to forging enduring partnerships with academic institutions in support of agriculture in Pakistan.

“This new office is the UN that we need for Pakistan, one that brings our staff and support close to the people and the local governments that we serve,” said Julien Harneis, UN Resident Coordinator for Pakistan. “It is particularly exciting to see the office in the Sind Agricultural University, where we can combine research and action.”

The new office in Tando Jam is a pivotal step toward strengthening ties with local stakeholders throughout Pakistan.

“FAO’s strategic focus is to build long-term collaborations with universities,” said Ms. Florence Rolle, FAO Representative in Pakistan, as she also attended. “These partnerships form the cornerstone of FAO's approach as it works with the people of Pakistan to promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance food production, with a view to ensure food security to the benefit of all, including the most vulnerable communities.”

The opening of the office is reinforcing FAO's commitment to advance agriculture and food security in Pakistan and across South Asia.

For more information, please contact:

Osama Razzak Mughal, Communication and Knowledge Management Associate, FAO

Tel.: 0314 567 9444 – Email: Osama.Razzak@fao.org

To learn more, please visit:

Website: www.fao.org/pakistan

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FAOinPakistan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FAOPakistan