PM Kakar expresses Pakistan’s support for Global Development Initiative

UNITED NATIONS: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Tuesday, expressing Pakistan’s support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI), highlighted the need for adequate financing and called for action in key areas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The prime minister, addressing the High Level Meeting on Global Development Initiative (GDI) Cooperation Outcomes, urged for action in five key areas including food production, infrastructure investment, industrialisation, resilient healthcare systems and the bridging digital divide.

He highlighted the necessity of adequate and appropriate finance at all levels of the development process and welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement of setting up another fund of $10 billion dedicated to the implementation of the GDI.

The prime minister highlighted that progress towards achieving the SDGs had suffered a serious setback due to the poly crises of COVID-19, conflict and climate change.

He expressed Pakistan’s support for the GDI and commended the milestones achieved in its implementation, the most recent being the successful launch of the Inter-Agency Task Force on GDI.

Prime Minister Kakar stressed that China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were vital vehicles for achieving the SDGs.

He stated that Pakistan looked forward to enhancing its cooperation with China and other members of the Group of Friends of GDI to realise their collective aspiration for the implementation of SDGs.

The event also featured the opening remarks by Vice President of China Han Zheng, President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis, and other high-level dignitaries, as well as a video briefing and presentation on GDI cooperation.

PM Kakar arrives in New York to lead Pakistan’s delegation at UNGA

Caretaker Prime Minister flew into New York on Monday afternoon to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which opens tomorrow, with nearly 150 world leaders set to attend the annual event.

He was received at John F. Kennedy International Airport by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Aamir Khan, Consul General in New York, Aamer Ahmed Atozai, and other officials.

The prime minister is set to address the General Assembly on Sept 22, the first Pakistani caretaker premier to do so.

Massive security measures are in place in and around the UN complex for the Assembly’s high-level debate from Sept 19 to 26.

In his address, PM Kakar is expected to project Pakistan’s perspective on a range of regional and general issues of concern, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He will also elaborate on the significant measures taken by his caretaker administration to consolidate the country’s economic recovery and efforts to mobilize domestic and external investment.

In addition, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries as well as with the heads of international organizations, philanthropic organizations and corporate leaders. He also has a number of media engagements.

Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani arrived on Sunday. PM Kakar will apparently be the first interim prime minister to represent Pakistan at the UN General Assembly.

At a news briefing in New York last week, Ambassador Munir Akram said that PM Kakar will also participate in a sustainable development goals (SDG) summit during his visit to the UN headquarters.

The United Nations will convene the SDG summit in New York on Sept 18-19, on the sidelines of the Assembly session.

“The prime minister will be speaking about the mobilization of financing for SDGs,” Ambassador Akram said.

The prime minister will also make a keynote at another summit on financing for development where “he will talk about how to mobilize private sector finance for development,” the Pakistani envoy added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen not to attend this year’s session. Instead his Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will address the Assembly on Sept 26.