Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, has announced the creation of 17 task forces designed to propel Pakistan toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This significant step was unveiled during a ministry-organized event commemorating the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

According to Press Information Department, the task forces will integrate expertise from various societal sectors, including government, political entities, opposition members, and both the public and private sectors. This collaborative effort aims to address all facets of sustainable development with a particular focus on poverty alleviation. Minister Iqbal stressed the necessity of united action across all social strata to overcome poverty and advance national sustainability.

The minister praised the proactive steps taken by the previous government in 2016, which formalized the SDGs into the national agenda via a resolution in the National Assembly, marking Pakistan as the first country to do so at such a level. He underscored that sustainable development is vital not only as a global agenda but as a national welfare priority. The event also revisited the Vision 2025 goals, set in 2013, which prioritized human resource development and poverty reduction as key to Pakistan’s progress.

Highlighting the economic setbacks under the previous administration, Iqbal pointed out the essential nature of the SDGs, which encompass crucial issues such as hunger, education, gender equality, and peace, all aimed at eradicating poverty. The establishment of these task forces, he noted, is crucial for transcending political divides to enhance the nation’s welfare.