|
|
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to extend, on behalf of Pakistan delegation, our warmest
felicitations to you and all the members of the Bureau elected for the 60th
session.
My delegation would like to align itself with the statement made by the
representative of Jamaica on behalf of G77 & China.
Mr. Chairman
Ten years since the Copenhagen World Summit on Social Development, the progress
on the core objectives of the Summit -- poverty eradication, full employment and
fostering social integration -- has been, as noted by the Secretary-General,
uneven, needing concerted and far-reaching efforts. We renewed and reaffirmed
our commitment to these goals in the 23rd Special Session of the UN General
Assembly and early this year in the 43rd Session of the Commission on Social
Development.
During the current Session, which would also be focusing on the follow up of
September Summit, we need to undertake concrete progress in the following areas
identified in the Copenhagen Summit:
(i) Achievement of uniform progress on all three fronts identified in Copenhagen
Summit, namely, poverty eradication, employment and social integration.
(ii) Elimination of asymmetries of globalization and its uneven costs and
benefits in accordance with the recommendations of the World Commission on the
Social Dimension of Globalization.
(iii) Efforts for greater social and economic stability and security by
addressing inequalities within and among countries.
(iv) Creation of new financial resources through increased ODA, debt
cancellation and increasing equity in trade, especially in agriculture and
textile.
(v) Prioritizing actions to remove global insecurity by resolution of ongoing
armed conflicts.
(vi) Eradicating root causes of poverty: unequal distribution of income and
assets, insecurity, social exclusion and powerlessness.
(vii) Enhancing the productive capacity of poor through increased access to land
credit, markets and information.
(viii) Ensuring greater investment in social sector: education, health care,
social protection and other social services, and targeting the needs of
vulnerable and disadvantaged.
(ix) Utilizing the opportunities created through migration for social
development and achievement of MDGs.
Mr. Chairman,
The World Summit called for a people - centered approach to development. The
Government of Pakistan is placing high priority on social development to make
Pakistan a tolerant, vibrant and progressive society. A latest study of the
World Bank shows Pakistan as the top reformer in the region and number 10
globally for successful and profit oriented business environment.
Poverty reduction remains the paramount objective of the Pakistan’s reform
agenda. Our strategy is guided by a holistic approach: promoting pro-poor
growth, creating opportunities for employment, improving governance, ensuring
that fruits of devolution reach the grass roots, and protecting vulnerable
segments of the society. To arrest the rising poverty trend, the Government of
Pakistan has chalked out a comprehensive plan in the shape of Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper (PRSP) within the broader framework of Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). The PRSP incorporates a more focused human development strategy
with a central role for the provincial and local governments.
Implementation of the macroeconomic reform agenda in Pakistan has yielded
unprecedented GDP growth of 8.4% during 2004-05. However, we are aware that
economic growth alone cannot fulfill all the needs of the poor. Social
integration is essential for distributing the fruits of government’s
anti-poverty programmes to the vulnerable segments of society. Other prominent
steps taken by the Government include distribution of State land to landless
tenants, availability of credit at easy terms, relief to drought affected areas
and implementation of the SAARC Social Charter.
These efforts are being complimented by comprehensive reforms and measures in
the related sectors and state institutions, such as devolution of power, police
and judicial reforms, tax reforms, civil service reforms, political reforms and
gender mainstreaming.
Devolution of power has brought about a radical transformation in the political
and administrative landscape of the country. It has led to the fullest local
representation in the decision making process on issues that relate to the
social development at the grass roots, particularly in education, health and
access to justice.
Mr. Chairman
Development is the highest priority for the vast majority of member states. We
need to build upon the recommendations of the September Summit on ODA targets,
debt relief, enhancing and improving aid and addressing the special needs of
Africa in the Outcome Document and advance on trade, investment flows and global
governance.
Implementation of development commitments must be accorded first priority in the
follow up of the Summit. The developing countries’ national strategies need the
development partners’ support to further strengthen the ongoing programmes in
the developing countries for poverty reduction, employment generation and social
integration. We must not disappoint billions of poor, who have attached high
hopes to the implementation of the 2005 Summit Outcome.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.