FPCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh has praised the work of the United Nations in Pakistan to encourage business growth and practices that are sustainable, open to all and socially responsible.

During the FPCCI and UN consultative session on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the possibility of a long-term partnership, he also said that Pakistan's entire business, industry, and trade community is ready to work with the UN through the FPCCI platform. As the apex organisation, FPCCI is uniquely positioned to increase awareness of the SDGs, climate change, gender equality, and social justice across all sectors of the economy.

It is pertinent to note that the high-profile event was attended by UN officials from its various organs, namely, United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO), UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and Global Compact from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and USA.

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Suleman Chawla, SVP of the FPCCI, informed the session that the FPCCI has functional and representative standing committees on major socioeconomic sectors of the economy and can fully support the UN's Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF) for Pakistan for 2023–27.

He added that these committees are made up of reputable experts from many domains of sustainable development, such as the environment, climate change, health, education, women entrepreneurship, women empowerment, human rights, skills development, and so on.

In a high-profile panel discussion with Shahnaz Wazirali, a well-known politician and former member of the federal cabinet, FPCCI VP Engr M A Jabbar stressed how important it was for Pakistan to have an efficient, modern, working, honest, and socially responsible bureaucracy to create an environment for social development. Otherwise, no programme for sustainable development and social uplift will be successful.

Shahnaz Wazirali says that if we want to achieve the SDGs and work toward inclusive and sustainable economic growth, we must embrace diversity, inclusion, environmental awareness, social justice, and the emancipation of women. She said education for all should be prioritised to achieve sustainable growth.

Shah Nasir Khan, a UN resident coordination officer, says that the UN knows that Pakistan needs tens of billions of dollars to help 33 million people who have been affected by recent floods and to rebuild infrastructure in areas that have been damaged.

To protect Pakistan from the adverse and disproportionate effects of global warming, forests must cover at least 25% of the country. However, Pakistan currently has only 2% of the forest, which is a recipe for disaster.

Source: Business Recorder

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