SHAKIR

LLB VIth Semester

LLB-

INTRODUCTION:
The term “sustainable development” first came to prominence in the world conservation
strategy (wcs) in 1980. It achieved a new status with the publication of two significant
reports by brundtalnd on: north and south: a programme for survival and common crisis
(1985) and our common future (1983) and has gained even greater attention since the
united nations conference on environment and development (unced) held in rio de jenerio
in june 1992. Several challenges threaten progress towards sustainable development. The
price hike in food and energy prices in 2008 led to a severe food crisis. The subsequent fall
of energy prices has eased some of the pressure on energy importing countries. Yet, food
prices remain high. The global financial and economic crisis in 2009 exacerbated the
situation: growth rates are falling, unemployment is rising, poverty in deepening, hunger
and malnutrition are on the increase again. The main challenge is to gradually change our
current unsustainable consumption and production patterns and the non-integrated
approach to policy-making.”

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
The term sustainable development began to gain wide acceptance in the late 1980s, after
its appearance in our common future, also known as the brundtland report. The result of a
un-convened commission created to propose “a global agenda for change” in the concept
and practices of development, the brundtland report signalled the urgency of re-thinking
our ways of living and governing. To “responsibly meet humanity’s goals and aspirations”
would require new ways of considering old problems as well as international co-operation
and co-ordination.
Development: The act or process of developing; growth; progress.
Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

At the core of sustainable development is the need to consider “three pillars” together:
society, the economy and the environment. No matter the context, the basic idea remains

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the same – people, habitats and economic systems are inter-related. We may be able to
ignore that interdependence for a few years or decades, but history has shown that before
long we are reminded of it by some type of alarm or crisis.

KEY CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN:

The following are the key challenges of sustainable development which Pakistan is facing
and trying to cope up with these challenges:
 Climate change and clean energy
 Sustainable transport system
 Sustainable consumption and production patterns
 Conservation and management of natural resources
 Public health system
 Social inclusion, demography and migration issues
 Global poverty and sustainable development challenges

PAKISTAN’S CHALLENGES: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2015-2030:

In the sustainable development goals (SDGS) lies the solution to Pakistan’s three central
challenges: development, democracy and defense. That said, the SDGS will provide the glue
that holds this fragile triangle. Implementing the UN’S 2030 agenda for sustainable
development, if realized as an integrated policy package, will also lead to long-term
economic prosperity, human and environmental development. However, aside from
external threats, a poor score card on meeting the 17 SDGS and the 169 targets specified by
the UN will pose a serious, non-traditional threat to the country’s national security. That
said, it is time to address what could turn out to be more like 17 socio-economic risks to
Pakistan’s security and progress, if targets remain unmet, especially those related to
poverty alleviation, gender empowerment and climate change adaption.

STAKEHOLDER MAPPING AROUND THE HEALTH- RELATED SDGS:

While carrying out a mapping study of stakeholders to promote the health-related SDGS in
pakistan, I found the country’s efforts towards achieving the goals to still be in their

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infancy. And while numerous stakeholders are working towards the 2030 agenda, the type
of coordinated efforts we desperately need among all actors – NGOS, think thanks,
academia, the media, and government – appear to be lacking. The SDGS require not only a
multi-sect oral approach, but also a multi-stakeholder approach to be adopted in true spirit.
Yet, there is an opportunity in Pakistan to engage all these various stakeholders through
SDG units being set-up to provide overall strategic coordination and oversight of the
agenda.

PAKISTAN IS MOVING FORWARD:

As a first step towards the development of this actionable roadmap, the federal unit could
organize a national forum that would bring together all relevant actors to discuss their
current roles, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, agree on responsibilities, and
identify ways to track progress and convert it into an actionable roadmap as a collective
national vision, instead of working on silos. Such a roadmap, which could include clear
roles and responsibilities with attached targets and performance indicators, is
indispensable to providing a voice to all stakeholders and ensuring government
accountability for their actions, and thus ultimately achieving the SDGS. This kind of
arrangement will require the government to take on a leadership role while at the same
time creating space for deeper consultation and involvement of various stakeholders, both
outside and inside of government. Only by having an integrated and inclusive approach will
the country stand a chance of achieving the SDGS.