Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 20 September 2023

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 

MESSAGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

21 September 2023

As we mark this International Day of Peace, people and our planet are in crisis.

Conflicts driving record numbers of people from their homes.

Deadly fires, raging floods and soaring temperatures.

Poverty, inequalities and injustices.

Mistrust, division and prejudice.

This year’s theme reminds us that peace is not automatic.

Peace is the result of action.

Action to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure that no one is left behind.

Action to end the war on our planet and its natural gifts.

Action to uphold and protect the human rights and dignity of every person — especially as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Action to use the timeless tools of diplomacy, dialogue and collaboration to defuse tensions and end conflict.

And action for those millions of people living through the horrors of war.

Peace is not only a noble vision for humanity.

Peace is a call to action.

Let us commit to build, drive and sustain peace for all.

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UNIC

PRESS RELEASE

United Nations organizes ninth of 12 dialogues about sustainable development in Sialkot, Punjab

More than 1,000 local leaders living in 12 major cities outside of the federal and provincial capitals will discuss development priorities across the country.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 20 September 2023 - Today the ninth of a series of 12 dialogues on sustainable development was held in Sialkot, Punjab 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 are discussing the development challenges which they face, and how they impede economic and social progress in their districts. The dialogues are being held in the different languages spoken across Pakistan.

“These dialogues bring the United Nations closer to the people and the local governments that we serve, said Julien Harneis, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan.  “We are actively listening to their concerns and their ideas. They will work together, and with us, on accelerating progress to bridge inequalities and reduce poverty. We will share their suggestions with the Federal Government as we focus on returning to sustainable development.”

In Sialkot, the discussions focused on four topics chosen by the participants ahead of the event: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), women's voices, governance, and Climate Change.

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

The 12 dialogues engage 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 basic social services. All are key to Pakistan’s progress towards the achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Eight SDG dialogues have already taken place in Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi, Punjab; Hyderabad and Sukkur, Sindh; Mardan and Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Quetta, Balochistan.

The dialogues will help inform discussions in alignment with the global SDG Summit which the UN has organized to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, halfway of the 2030 deadline. The Government of Pakistan is participating 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:

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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