Karachi, Feburuary 26, 2021: Experts in community development have pointed out that without engaging communities and civil society organizations the government cannot afford to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) milestone in isolation. The government has to connect communities at grassroots level to achieve the goals set by the United Nations for 2030.
They were speaking on the occasion of annual national awards ceremony held here on Thursday evening at HANDS’s Head Office, here under the slogan “Connecting Communities to 2030”.
Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Billo, renowned philanthropist and founder of HANDS Pakistan, a national level non-governmental organisations (NGO), said they have strong economic support from all provincial governments especially Sindh as well as international development partners, including Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) UK and USAID.
“We hope that this cooperation will continue with even more strength and collaboration in the years to come”, he mentioned.
The event was conducted to highlight the importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inculcating them at grassroots level in Pakistan with a holistic and inclusive approach.
Dr Billo said the HANDS is setting out on a new direction given the SDG’s with the vision “quality of life for all in an equitable, humane, peaceful and sustainable world”.
Some of the development partners like Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, UK (FCDO) were connected remotely on the occasion and added their valuable inputs as they received awards for their longstanding partnership with HANDS and playing a pivotal role in development since the last 10 years.
Dr Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed, Chief Executive of HANDS shed light on the history of the organisation and its activities since 1979, saying how it has progressed to the current strategy 2030.
He mentioned the importance of key partners and a cumulative vision which may help Pakistan to be able to achieve the imperative milestones of SDGs.
Annabel Gerry, Development Director in Pakistan for FCDO, said that the UK is fully committed to strengthen the partnership with Pakistan in difficult times. She reflected on the past natural disasters in the country and how much Pakistan is prone to natural disasters.
She said there has been a strong relationship between HANDS and FCDO in terms of not only humanitarian response but also in health and education sectors in the country, reaching almost 1.2 million most vulnerable people in disaster prone areas.
The USAID Director Office for Sindh and Balochistan, James Parys congratulated HANDS on the event emphasized on the work to be done for communities and for Pakistan to achieve its SDGs.
Mr. Sönke Widderich, Deputy Head of Project Department, Medico International said HANDS has been a key partner in the region, which is working to achieve SDGs.
Mr. Qazi Azmat Essa, Chief Executive, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), spoke online and gave his value comments and highlighted the key projects.
Roshan Sheikh, Secretary of Sindh government’s Social Welfare Department, said that Pakistan has challenges of its own kind because of the critical geopolitical situation that has an impact on its development pace.
He said that even though the country has moved forward in many milestones but in few remain short of reaching to optimum levels as of commitments under Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015.
“Now the 2030 development agenda under SDGs is in front of us. Sindh government is very focused and committed to achieve the milestones agreed under SDGs 2030”, he explained.
Seminar produced recommendations which declared to provide access to basic amenities and services like adequate food, clothes, shelter, healthcare, education, water and sanitation and peaceful environment so the people may live with dignity without fear. They also call to have citizens’ voice in the making decision of government policies and in the execution of these policies and strategies. The right to have easy, timely and affordable access to justice and receive fair settlement of just claims including compensation for losses, the seminar highlights.
Representatives of UNICEF Sindh, WASH specialists, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited, Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) and others participated in the event.
