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Madam President,
At the outset, let me congratulate you on the election of the Bureau of the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFP and UNOPS. We also appreciate the statement by Administrator Halen Clark this morning.
We fully associate with the statement made by Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2016 was important in crafting and adoption of the QCPR resolution.
Earlier, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement renewed faith in multilateralism and international development cooperation. We expect that the new Secretary General will carry forward the work done by his predecessor and with his vision, commitment and leadership will instill new vigour in our collective efforts to attain these significant and historic milestones.
Madam President,
The high level engagement through the landmark Summits in New York, and later in Paris, demonstrated that we all share a common desire for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Accomplishment of this new development paradigm however, poses many implementation and leadership challenges. Unwavering political support and ownership must not only continue, but will need to be reinforced at every step.
The role of the UN Development System (UNDS) in supporting SDGs is commendable. It has established itself as a reliable development partner.
The range of issues covered by SDGs and their universal nature require recalibration of the entire UNDS, taking into account all aspects, including organizational, institutional, functional, financial and operational, in line with the fresh mandate of the QCPR resolution.
We also acknowledge the role of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS in the implementation of global agendas which are helpful in eradication of poverty.
Pakistan’s commitment to the full realization of SDGs can be gauged from the fact that we have already mainstreamed the 2030 Agenda in our national plans. Pakistani Parliament has established a mechanism to directly monitor its implementation.
Pakistan looks forward to playing a constructive role in adoption of the Strategic Plan (2018-2021) of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS and UN-Women, which would set these organizations up for attainment of the 2030 Agenda.
Madam President,
Finally, we would also like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Administrator of UNDP, Ms. Halen Clark, for her work over the last eight years. We pay tribute to her leadership in guiding our organization to strive harder to become a comprehensive agent of development and progress. Under her able stewardship, the UNDP witnessed many landmark agreements which are a testimony to her resolve to leave this organization in a better shape than the one she inherited.
We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
I thank you, Madam President.