SDPI’s 20th
Sustainable Development Conference (Evening sessions)
ISLAMABAD: (Dec 6, 2017): Minister of State for Information
and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb has said peace and security is pre-requisite
to development in every country and Pakistan needs to expedite its efforts
towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
She was speaking at the Development Journalism Award 2017
ceremony of 20th Sustainable Development Conference organized by
Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Wednesday.
“We believe that media and sustainable development has a
co-relation and whatever scholars and policy planners and implementers do to
move on the path of sustainable development, media keeps an eye according to
their mandate of ‘protecting the right to know of the people’ on the
development.
Ms Aurangzed said political governments are always
accountable to their actions but everyone who governs the country should be
accountable to its deeds.
Earlier, SDPI Executive Director Abid Qaiyum Suleri
presented an overview of the conference before the audience. He said the
conference tries to present solutions of different problems the country is
faced with from energy to economy. He said media needs to present the positive
aspects of Pakistani society.
At the end of the ceremony, shields were distributed among
the selected journalists who promoted the themes of sustainable development in
their writing during the year 2017.
Earlier speaking at a panel on ‘Achieving a Food Secure and
Nutritious Pakistan: Identifying Practical Pathways Forward’, Dr. Stephen
Davies from IFPRI said food security is a challenging problem faced by
Pakistan, where the rate of stunted children is 3rd highest in the world.
He said there must be nutritional interventions, such as
with crop production diversity, market access, enhancement of integration into
the nutritional value chain, sanitation, introduction and awareness of
different foods, and overall agricultural enhancement.
Dr Mubarak Ali highlighted the agricultural potential and
reiterated the importance of international value chain integration.
Additionally, he said, quality in production improvement is a cornerstone of
reducing food security.
Tauseef Akhtar Janjua said food losses are severe and must
be reduced as well. Amir Mehmood covered most of what was covered already, with
emphasis on increasing investment and budgetary allocations. Imran Shaukat
reiterated succinctly the previously discussed materials.
Speaking at a session on ‘Role of Women and Youth in
Achieving SDGs, MNA Romina Khurshid Alam said there is a need to engage
provincial and federal level in making effective policies for implementation of
SDGs in Pakistan. She suggested media to play a proactive role in
implementation of SDGs, review those sectors which are still missing from the
society and linkages of academia to support SDGs.
Naseem Khan Achakzai from IYSL said that partnershipS
between youth and women and local governments, institutions, academia,
provinces and global youth is important for implementation of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Member of Provincial Government, Awais Qasim,
said that Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved unless we
make collaborative actions by public and
private sector to achieve them.
Local government representative, Ejaz Ahmad Hafeez said that
zero tolerance and ineffective education have gained roots in the society due
to lack of ineffective input by politicians, teacher and scholars. He further
emphasized on changing the mindset of the patriarchal society to support women
in their efforts to address Sustainable Development Goals.
Maria Bastos from University of Management and Technology
UMT, Lahore emphasized on developing habit of critical thinking in the youth of
Pakistan to achieve gender equality in Pakistan. She highlighted the issues faced by women in
finding jobs in Patriarchal society of Pakistan. She also suggested to
establish networks between universities to achieve Sustainable Development
Goals.
Dr Nausheen Hamid from Member Provincial Assembly, KPK
advised to provide better opportunities in decision making process. She further
advised to involve men in achieving gender equality along with women for the
creation of resilient society.
Member Provincial Assembly, Maliha Ali, said that said that
local government is more effective actor for the implementation of SDGs in the
society. She also suggested to make separate sector for youth in each ministry.
Speaking at a session on ‘Promoting Gender Equality – Icons
of Feminism in South Asia, Dr Nathalene Reynolds, Independent Researcher and
Associate, Pakistan Security Research Unit (PSRU), Durham University, UK said
“Education is an invaluable window to the world. She also narrated Malala’s
story and informed the audience that she had the guts and courage to stand up
in the face of fear to what she believed was right and had substance. Women,
irrespective of whichever society they are from should raise their voice and
express freedom of speech freely for an otherwise terrorized society where male
patriarchies exist.
Ms Nazima Shaheen, Environment Specialist, Islamabad,
Pakistan highlighted the role of positive deviants in the journey of feminism
on the idea that alone knowing about women rights is not enough, practicing and implementation
of it is what is required. She further pointed out that women need to be
innovative and culturally acceptable at the same time.
Ms. Shireen Gheba, Artist and Writer, Islamabad, Pakistan
dilated on the subject matter that gender equality needs to be promoted
irrespective of gender, race, and creed. She also said that acknowledgement of
males for females in their rights promotion, freedom of speech, and job
opportunities should be voiced through active media engagement so that they can
lead by example.
Mr. Raza Naeem, Instructor, Beaconhouse School, Lahore,
Pakistan mentioned the role Chugtai had played on highlighting the pivotal role
that women play in society. He suggested that a platform for women needs to be
provided where women can voice their concerns and can be actively heard as
well. Attitudes need to change to incorporate increased women participation in
all spheres of life.
The participants agreed that Information Technology is now
an inseparable part of our life. But the expanding cyberspace which involves
the enhanced use of IT and telecom invites hackers to misuse and disrupt the use
of cyber space. The hackers and attackers are likely to enjoy advantages of
anonymity and asymmetry. Coordinated efforts at the national and international
level will be needed to face the menace.
Speaking at a session on Public-Private Dialogue on Economic
Agenda 2018, Ms Naeema Kishwar, MNA JUI-F, called for improving economy, peace
and security situation. She said that political volatility is a serious threat
to the economic vitality of Pakistan. She emphasized the re-evaluation of
Pakistan’s foreign policy in order to complement the trade policy.
Ali Khizer said successive governments have often neglected
to focus on backward linkages in the factor markets and strengthening the
manufacturing base.
Dr Shazia Aslam
stressed the need for a uniform policy to be applicable to the entire country.
She stated that concerns regarding the displacement of domestic labor due to
the influx of Chinese laborers should be taken seriously.
Farid Piracha, General Secretary, JI, stated that the JI has
formed a permanent committee regarding manifesto formulation. He stressed the
elimination of the pervasive influence of hoarders, speculators and feudals in
the Pakistani economy. He also emphasized the economic emancipation of women.
Shakib Sherani, presented on the dearth of institutional
reforms in the country. Due to this, Pakistan’s economic growth is in secular
decline in tandem with dismal socioeconomic indicators. Since governance is
enacted via institutional framework so there is a dire need to work on institutional
frameworks of the country.
Jan Achakzai stated that there should be political
willingness to achieve national interests. Due to the lack of political
consensus in the implementation of any kind of policies.
Speaking at a session ‘Towards a Resilient Future;
Adaptation to Climate Change, Secretary for the Ministry of Climate Change Syed
Abu Ahmed Akif said around 500 million gallons of freshwater is being wasted by
the peoples of Karachi every day and around 20 per cent of the city population travels
about 25 kilometer to collect the drinking water.
Shafqat Kakakhel from SDPI mentioned that after the
reorganization of RIO Summit 2012, scientist and policy makers first the time
sit together in Pakistan against climate change issue to formulate a uniform
policy.
Asghar Nawaz said that an improvement has been observed in
the government institution in response to climate extreme event, you can access
it by comparing the response of the institution in 2005 earth quake and 2010
flood.
Semi Kamal from PPAF said that around 60 per cent of Karachi
city is unplanned, its lacking basic facilities especially fresh water
availability. Water tanker supplier is the main source to provide water to the
majority of the city.
Dur e Shhwar said that around 67 per cent of the total area
of Pakistan is extremely sensitive to climate change and its impacts. Intensive
flooding is the main challenge faced by the population as an impact of climate
change.
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