New York: Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to developing sustainable urban environments, as outlined by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. This announcement came during a high-level meeting at the United Nations General Assembly focused on reviewing the progress of the New Urban Agenda.

According to Radio Pakistan, Khan emphasized the importance of the midterm review as an opportunity for global action in response to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, which affects housing, transportation, public safety, and the environment. He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to craft a National Urban Strategy in partnership with UN-Habitat, aiming to incorporate climate resilience into urban planning. This initiative comes in the wake of the devastating 2025 floods that resulted in significant loss of life.

Khan detailed the country’s post-flood recovery efforts, which have seen the reconstruction of over 400,000 homes for displaced families. He also outlined ongoing governmental projects to expand affordable, low-emission public transport, improve social protection mechanisms like the Benazir Income Support Programme, and enhance urban safety through the deployment of Safe City authorities equipped with real-time monitoring systems.

With a youthful population where nearly 67 percent are under the age of 30, Khan stressed the significance of engaging young people in shaping urban futures. The Pur Azm Pakistan initiative, part of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, aims to link young citizens to skill development, job opportunities, and entrepreneurial ventures through collaborations with both local and international partners.

Khan concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s dedication to international collaboration, expressing readiness to share experiences and contribute to strategies for sustainable urban development on a global scale. He expressed optimism that the midterm review would yield beneficial outcomes for both current and future generations.