Pakistan on agenda item 55

Statement By Ambassador Farukh Amil, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan, on agenda item 55: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 07 OCTOBER 2008, at the Third Committee of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly New York 07 October 2008

Chairperson,

Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,

This is the first time my delegation is taking the floor in the 3rd Committee during the 63rd session of United Nations General Assembly. We join the previous speakers to extend our warmest felicitations to you on your assumption of the Chairmanship of the Third Committee. Our felicitations also go to the other members of the Bureau for their election. We assure you of our delegation’s full support and cooperation during the deliberations of this committee.

  1. Our delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the Representative of Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Chairperson,

  1. The world is passing through perilous times. We all are being affected in very significant ways by multiple crises of finance, food and fuel. This exacerbates the risk of global recession with serious implications for the targets set forth for social and economic development by all countries specially the developing countries. This fact has been highlighted during the session yesterday and in the statements made by other distinguished colleagues.

Chairperson,

  1. The asymmetric impact of globalization, failure of the Doha round and increased economic competition are additional factors that drive the world to look afresh at global economy. As a consequence of the multiple crises, instead of economic growth and employment generation, the world today fears economic recession and is already experiencing employment loss.
  2. At this critical juncture, it is important to reaffirm our commitments from the World Summit for Social Development of 1995, which were reiterated again in the 2005 World Summit. In the World Summit, the world leaders pledged to make the eradication of poverty, the goal of full and productive employment and decent work for all... “a central objective of national and international policies and development strategies”.
  3. The report of the Secretary General on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly (A/63/133) continues to emphasize on full and productive employment and decent work for all to be placed at the center of economic and social policy making at national and international levels. It mentions investing in full and decent work opportunities constitutes a commitment to fairness and justice, and to a more effective public policy and better governance. It also highlights emerging issues of social protection, gender discrimination, labour markets, youth employment and challenges for mainstreaming disability in the development agenda.

Chairperson,

  1. Successful implementation of international commitments on social development require fair play in international trade and level playing field for developing countries. Our economies are mostly based on agrarian and labour intensive work force. The agriculture sector and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development can play an important role in achieving the goal of employment and providing decent work in developing countries. Therefore we need to invest in agriculture development micro-financing and building Small and Medium Enterprises.

Chairperson,

  1. The recently elected democratic government of Pakistan attaches high priority to promoting employment opportunities by enhancing economic growth, development and welfare of its people through empowerment of all stakeholders, particularly women.
  2. The ongoing Medium-Term Development Framework 2005-2010 (MTDF) in Pakistan stresses on just and sustainable economic system by reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It incorporates a paradigm shift towards enhancing competitiveness not only by means of higher investment but also through total knowledge inputs to maximize total factor productivity.
  3. Small and Medium Enterprises provide employment to the bulk of non-agriculture and partially employed work force in Pakistan, this represents a significant component of Pakistan’s economy. The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority established by the government is providing support to 3.5 million SMEs all over the country.
  4. In an effort to promote youth employment, Pakistan launched a nation-wide National Internship Programme (NIP) to harness the energy and motivation of the educated youth with the dual objectives of improving the public sector performance and increasing the viability of educated youth. 20,000 Interns have been inducted in the first batch, the programme is expected to benefit up to 50,000 graduates annually all over Pakistan.
  5. Special quotas for women and physically challenged in public sector jobs have been established in order to provide employment to this segment of the society. Similarly private sector in Pakistan is also encouraging employment of women and physically challenged.

Chairperson,

  1. It is important to seriously address the multiple crises of finance, food and fuel, and to address negative trends in the global economic relations that hinder provision of employment generation in the developing countries. The decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) widening divide between the rich and the poor countries, rising poverty levels and continued marginalization of developing countries in international economic decision making are some of the key factors which impede our objectives of just and equitable social development.

Chairperson,

  1. Enhanced international cooperation including fulfilling commitments for ODA, debt relief and provision of technology remain fundamental to implement the agenda to provide full and decent employment to all.

Thank you.