BRI and CPEC vital vehicles for achieving SDGs, says PM Kakar

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar noted that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are vital vehicles for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He was participating in a High-Level Meeting on Global Development Initiative (GDI) Cooperation Outcomes held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to a report carried by Gwadar Pro on Thursday.
The GDI was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 20, 2022. In his remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted that progress towards achieving the SDGs has suffered a serious setback due to the poly crises of COVID, conflict and climate change.
He expressed Pakistan’s support for the GDI and commended the milestones achieved in its implementation, the most recent being the successful launch of the Inter-Agency Task Force on GDI.
And he highlighted the need for action in 5 key areas: food production, infrastructure investment, industrialization, resilient healthcare systems and the bridging the digital divide.
The Prime Minister further highlighted the necessity of adequate and appropriate finance at all levels of the development process and welcomed President Xi’s announcement of the setting up another fund of USD 10 billion dedicated to the implementation of the GDI.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan looks forward to enhancing its cooperation with China and other members of the Group of Friends of GDI to realize their collective aspiration for implementation of the SDGs.
The event also heard opening remarks by Mr. Han Zheng, Vice President of China, Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, and other high-level dignitaries, as well as a video briefing and presentation on GDI cooperation.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and briefed him on India’s ongoing human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In a meeting held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, where it had abolished the status of Kashmir.
Kakar called for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The prime minister thanked the Secretary-General for his unwavering support during last year’s floods and for co-hosting the Geneva Conference on Pakistan’s Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF).
Recognizing the grave threat of climate change, the prime minister stressed the importance of the fulfillment of climate finance commitments by developed nations.
He also updated the UNSG on the newly established Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which has the objective of promoting investments in Pakistan for a robust economic recovery of the country.
The prime minister appreciated the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for global financial transformation to invigorate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and proposed measures for augmenting the SDG agenda.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq on Thursday highlighting the SIFC as a one-window platform to facilitate the investors, encouraged Rio Tinto Group – a global leader in mining and minerals – to invest in Pakistan.
The prime minister, in a meeting with CEO of Rio Tinto Group Jakob Stausholm highlighted the country’s vast untapped mineral reserves, valued at over $6 trillion, which included substantial deposits of gold, copper, and rare earth metals.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The prime minister outlined Pakistan’s robust economic vision, emphasizing the government’s commitment to sustainable growth through efficiency enhancement, reduced business costs, regulatory improvements, increased productivity, and higher investments.
He underscored the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which acted as a single-window platform, simplifying procedures and fostering an investor-friendly environment.
He emphasized the significance of the mining sector as a priority for FDI, leveraging Pakistan’s abundant natural resources, including copper, gold, lead, zinc, and rare earth minerals.
He also underscored that the Government of Pakistan’s objective was to keep the people of Pakistan’s interest foremost while having win-win cooperation with companies like Rio Tinto.
The prime minister extended an invitation to Rio Tinto Group’s CEO and their team to visit Pakistan and explore investment opportunities further.
CEO of Rio Tinto Group thanked the prime minister for the invitation and assured that his team would liaise with the relevant authorities to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mineral and mining sector. – INP