The United Nations in Pakistan

The UN in Pakistan is committed to supporting the Government of Pakistan as it responds to the development needs and its global commitments around the SDGs. It also helps the country during humanitarian crises.

In 2006, the Government of Pakistan volunteered to become a Delivering as One pilot country. Since then the UN partners have been working together more closely to increase effectiveness, alignment with national priorities and efficiency at country, regional and global levels.

The first One UN Programme (2009-2012), referred to as OP I, was signed in February 2009 in the presence of the UN Secretary-General and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The second One UN Programme (OPII, 2013-2017) was aligned with national political processes and both national and sub-national development priorities, frameworks and strategies. The One UN Programme OPIII for 2018-2022, signed in April 2018, is in line with the Secretary-General's Reform and best practices.

In line with UN principles, the UN's endeavours in Pakistan are rooted in the human rights-based approach, with gender equality, inclusion, capacity development and environmental sustainability being focuses throughout all UN interventions.

At the turn of the decade in 2020, The Decade of Action campaign was launched to renew and reenergise the focus and commitment to achieving the SDGs.

Caption: A view of the Lahore Fort in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.18 February 2020

Photo: © UN photo

Milestones

Governance, Economic Growth, and Decent Work: By 2022, the people of Pakistan will have increased knowledge of their rights and improved access to more accountable, transparent and effective governance mechanisms and Rule of Law Institutions.

Nutrition, Health and WASH: By 2022, children, adolescent girls and boys, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and persons with disabilities have improved dietary intake, feeding and care practices, resulting in improved nutritional status, while reducing stunting and other forms of undernutrition. By 2022, the people in Pakistan, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised, have access to, and benefit from, improved universal health coverage, including sexual and reproductive health, and equitable WASH services.

Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture: By 2022, the people of Pakistan, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised populations, have improved availability of, access to, and consumption of safe, nutritious and sufficient food, while promoting sustainable agriculture to achieve Zero Hunger.

Resilience: By 2022, the resilience of the people in Pakistan, especially key populations, is increased by addressing natural and other disasters, including climate change adaptation measures and the sustainable management of cultural and natural resources.

Education and Learning: By 2022, children and youth will have enhanced, equitable and inclusive access to, and benefit from, quality learning opportunities.

Social Protection, Gender Equality and Dignity: By 2022, improved and effective social protection systems will be available for all, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalised populations. By 2022, government institutions will have increased accountability towards gender equality commitments and social, economic, cultural and political rights.

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The Sustainable Development Goals 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.