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Mr. Chairperson,
Allow me to extend, on behalf of Pakistan delegation, our warmest
felicitations on your assumption of the Chairmanship of the Commission for
Social Development. We look forward to work constructively under your
stewardship. My delegation would like to associate with the statement made by
the representative of Jamaica on behalf of G77 & China.
Mr. Chairman,
2. Ten years ago, world leaders came together in Copenhagen for the first World
Summit for Social Development, a meeting that raised hopes and expectations and
made actual commitments for the improvement of the human conditions. Today,
while commemorating the tenth anniversary of this summit and taking stock of its
achievement, we see that these hopes and expectations, though not completely
dashed, yet, are certainly diminished. A number of macro economic trends are
negatively affecting social development particularly, socio economic deprivation
and inequality among individuals, social groups, entire communities and
countries across the globe.
3. In reviewing the further implementation of the World Summit for Social
Development, we are confronted with the challenges of poverty alleviation,
employment generation and social integration. We all are cognizant that poverty
anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. Poverty is the core of all ills.
Poverty causes illiteracy, it breeds disease, malnutrition, weak growth and
sufferings. It is the reason for moral degradation and human trafficking, it
leads to drug proliferation; causes grievous environmental degradation and most
of all it provides the gun fodder for terrorism and extremism. Thus any
concerted effort to address poverty will have multiple positive effects and
collateral benefits. Combating poverty is thus a moral, social, economic and
political imperative for all Nations.
Mr. Chairman,
4. The report of the Secretary General on “ Review of further implementation of
the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty- fourth
special session of the General Assembly” has rightly pointed out to reaffirm the
need for a people centered approach to development and for its urgent and
concrete implementation through coordinated efforts by the international
community. Strengthening the prospects of an enabling environment for people-
centered development, we need to focus particularly on intensifying integrated
strategies and policies for poverty eradication, creating employment
opportunities for all and fostering social integration and cohesion amongst all
the segments of society.
5. My delegation believes that although national effort to alleviate poverty is
absolutely imperative, the external environment in which the nation states
operate also has to be benign and favourable. We all know that trade and not aid
is a potent way to promote growth and benefit from globalization. Significant
gains have been recorded by many countries but for many others, the benefits of
globalization are not being realized. The fact of the matter is that the
existing trading rules are clearly biased against the developing countries as
the rich countries provide huge subsidies of almost $ 1 billion a day to the
tiny proportion of their population who are in the farming sector. This
distortion has edged out the developing countries from global markets although
they enjoy comparative advantage in agriculture commodities.
6. My delegation is of the view that we need not have a level playing field but
a field tilted in favour of the developing countries. In addition to trade, the
developed countries have to open barriers to markets, remove restrictions
against migration of labour, give incentives for locating direct investment,
promote transfer of technology and higher education in science and technology in
developing countries.
7. We agree with the conclusion of the Secretary General’s report that the
people-centered approach to policy making has not lost its relevance and appeal,
but is neglected in many quarters and is also threatened by recent developments
on the international scene. We, therefore, endorse that the Commission for
Social Development should recommend to the General Assembly through the Economic
and Social Council that implementation of the people centered-approach ought to
dominate and shape the agendas of national Governments and International
organizations in order to restore the spirit of the Copenhagen Summit and to
foster the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We hope that our
deliberations here in this Commission would make contribution for ECOSOC’s input
for the High Level Event of the General Assembly this year.
Mr. Chairman,
8. The Government of Pakistan, places high priority on social development to see
Pakistan as a tolerant, vibrant and progressive society. With this backdrop,
Pakistan has embarked upon a number of initiatives to improve the social
indicators through increasing investment in social sector. Prominent steps
include distribution of State land to landless tenants, launching poverty
reduction strategy paper, availability of credit at easy terms, relief to
drought affected areas and implementation of the SAARC Social Charter. In
addition, measures have also been initiated for employment generation and social
integration.
9. Promoting productive employment is on the priority of the Government’s
economic agenda. The Government has initiated steps for formulation of a
targeted employment policy linked with skill development programmes under its
development activities by sharing best practices in the regional countries.
Pakistan is pursuing a policy of enlightened moderation. We have laid special
emphasis on facilitation of girls’ education to eliminate the gender gap. In the
next five-years, orientation programmes have been launched to mould the country
into moderate, vibrant, just, tolerant and participatory society. Formal
curriculum has been introduced for mainstreaming of religious Schools (Madaris).
For this purpose, a project costing Rs. 5.6 billion is under implementation. For
overall social integration, an amount of Rs. 103 billion has been earmarked in
the education and training sector during the Plan 2005-10.
10. The key initiatives in other sectors include devolution of power, police and
judicial reforms, tax reforms, civil service, political reforms and gender
mainstreaming. Devolution of power is an important step in recent years, which
has brought about a radical transformation in the political and administrative
landscape of the country resulting in the promotion of local representation in
the decision-making process regarding all issues including developmental
activities.
11. Gender mainstreaming as a public policy has introduced political reforms and
women are given adequate share in political representation both at National and
Provincial level as well as local level.
12. In spite of the challenges involved, we feel confident that sharing of
information through this forum about the best practices in various parts of the
world, we shall greatly benefit to further strengthen the ongoing programmes for
poverty reduction, employment promotion and social integration amongst the
comity of nations, irrespective of class, creed and colour.
I thank you, Mr. Chairperson.