Islamabad : Reaffirming their dedication to sustainable development and inclusion, AwazCDS-Pakistan along with its members under the aegis of Pakistan Development Alliance and in collaboration with Asia Democracy Network (ADN), Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and Sightsavers International, hosted a National People’s Assembly on the International Day of Democracy as well as 11th anniversary of Agenda 2030 for Social Transformation and Summit of the Future. The National Peoples’ Assembly aimed to bring together civil society organizations, rights advocates, and policymakers from across the country. The event served as a vital platform to assess Pakistan’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and align efforts with global calls for equity, inclusion, and sustainable development as the 2030 deadline approaches.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Zia Ur Rehman, CEO of AwazCDS-Pakistan, highlighted the importance of democracy, economic & gender equality for inclusive and sustainable development. Pakistan is regressing in sustainable development index from 129 in 2023 to 137 in 2024. Noticeable regression of 8 percentage point just in one year time is highly alarming, he said. He further informed the participants that three goals specifically SDG 4 (quality education), SDG11(sustainable cities and communities) and SDG16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) are critically falling behind and showing downward trends in the global index. Pakistan spends less than 6.9% of its total yearly budget on overall public sector development whereas Pakistan should spend more than 25% of its total yearly budget if we are serious in achieving our commitments under SDGs, he emphasized. Pakistan would again fail to achieve its global commitments especially SDGs if the public sector investment remained as low as of now, he warned.
Munazza Gillani, Director Pakistan and Middle East, Sightsavers has expressed her commitment to this and said, “At Sightsavers, we ensure that inclusivity and diversity remain at the forefront of every initiative we undertake because these issues impact everyone. Pakistan’s economy loses an estimated $3.2 billion due to the lack of engagement with people with disabilities, who make up 10-15% of our population, according to WHO. It’s time we join hands, and civil society plays a pivotal role in driving this change.”
The first panel at the National Peoples’ Assembly, addressed issues such as Equity & Inclusion, Disability Rights, Child Rights, and Social Protection, featuring contributions from social leaders like Dr. Atif Sheikh (STEP), Syed Ishtiaq Ul Hassan Gilani (UGOOD), Muhammad Asim Zafar (CBID-N) and Sameena Nazir (PODA). Syed Ishtiaq Ul Hassan Gilani underscored the importance of enforcing child labor laws, stating, “There is no clear definition of a child’s age in Pakistan, as in many other countries, and it is crucial to define this age bracket uniformly in all our laws and policies. We must avoid engaging children below the legal age in labor or the market. Clear laws and policies are needed to effectively regulate child labor in the country.” Sameena Nazir emphasized the timely nature of the assembly, adding, “This assembly has been organized at just the right time, and I sincerely hope it reaches the people who can support the change. I’m glad to see that we are putting our efforts in the right direction, addressing critical issues that affect marginalized communities, and working collectively toward a more inclusive and equitable future.” Asim Zafar from CBID-N highlighted solutions to bridge gaps in inclusion and demanded that vulnerable populations are fully represented in Pakistan’s development agenda. Dr. Atif Sheikh criticized the use of different terminologies for persons with disabilities, the use of different expressions like “People with Special Abilities” or ‘people living with different abilities” undermines the very essence of matter. We are persons with disabilities and we want to be recognized as PWDs so as we get proper attention and share in public processes and programs.
The second panel explored themes of Quality Education, Governance, Democracy and Civic Rights, Digital Rights, and Poverty and Inequality, featuring experts like Javed Ahmed Malik (Malala Fund Pakistan), Zafarullah Khan (Civic Educator & Constitutional Expert), Mustafa Talpur (Regional Advocacy Officer OXFAM) and Haroon Baloch (Digital Rights Activist). These discussions focused on uplifting marginalized communities, particularly considering Pakistan’s democratic and economic challenges and the rapid rise of digital transformation. The experts criticized the citizens surveillance and blockade digital spaces in the name of digital security. The experts also highlighted the need of a new charter of democracy, truth and reconciliation commission to address challenges of rising political polarization in the country.
The assembly concluded with the presentation of a Charter of Demands and a symbolic #ACT4SDGs stunt, calling for urgent, inclusive actions on national and local SDG priorities.
AwazCDS-Pakistan remains dedicated to advocating for a sustainable, inclusive future, ensuring that the rights of marginalized communities are at the forefront of national development efforts.