January 27, 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continues to strengthen its collaborations with both public and private sectors in Pakistan to promote sustainable development and enhance the country’s resilience to climate change. These efforts are part of a broader strategy aimed at fostering long-term social and economic progress across the nation.
A recent meeting between the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Dr. Samuel Rizk, the Resident Representative of UNDP in Pakistan, highlighted the ongoing initiatives. The meeting, which took place at the Finance Division, provided a platform to discuss UNDP’s extensive work in multiple sectors, including social development, climate resilience, energy transition, and digital transformation. These initiatives are aligned with Pakistan’s broader goals of economic stability, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
During the meeting, Dr. Rizk outlined UNDP’s comprehensive approach to addressing Pakistan’s development challenges. He emphasized how the organization is working across various sectors to improve social outcomes, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and facilitate the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources. A major focus of these efforts is to enhance the country’s ability to adapt to climate change and reduce its vulnerability to environmental shocks.
Senator Aurangzeb expressed strong support for these initiatives, noting that they complement the government’s long-term strategic objectives. The finance minister highlighted the importance of creating well-structured, investable, and bankable projects that adhere to international standards for monitoring and reporting. This approach, he emphasized, is essential to ensuring the successful implementation of development projects, which must be planned and executed with transparency and a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
Moreover, Senator Aurangzeb commended UNDP for its technical and financial support in priority sectors, particularly in areas critical to Pakistan’s socio-economic development. He reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth, particularly in addressing pressing challenges such as rapid population growth, stunting, and the ever-worsening impacts of climate change. These issues remain central to Pakistan’s broader development agenda and require multi-stakeholder efforts for effective solutions.
Another key area of focus during the discussions was Pakistan’s partnership with the World Bank, with Senator Aurangzeb referencing the recently signed 10-year country partnership program. This program, which aims to promote inclusive growth and build human capital, is also geared towards fostering durable private sector growth and enhancing the nation’s economic, social, and environmental resilience. The program aligns closely with UNDP’s work in the country, reinforcing the idea that achieving sustainable development requires deep, cross-sector collaboration.
Both the UNDP and the Pakistani government reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in addressing the country’s critical development challenges. Their partnership will focus on tackling issues related to climate change, improving social outcomes, and boosting the efficiency of the public sector. These efforts are not only designed to bolster Pakistan’s economic stability but also to create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for the country’s citizens.
The collaboration between UNDP and Pakistan exemplifies the importance of international partnerships in addressing global and local challenges. With continued support from organizations like UNDP and the World Bank, Pakistan is well-positioned to navigate its development challenges and achieve its long-term sustainability goals.