DOHA: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Monday that the country is committed to carrying out the Doha Programme of Action and saw it as a chance to hasten sustainable prosperity in the least developed nations.
The prime minister of Qatar spoke at the fifth Least Developed Countries Conference (LDC5) in Doha, saying that partnerships between LDCS and developed countries, as well as the private sector and civil society, were important for promoting world prosperity. The opportunity to ensure sustainable development in the regions where international assistance was most required was stressed by PM Sharif.
He said the LDCs needed major investments in health, education and social protection systems, adding that vast resources were required to fully implement Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The prime minister highlighted that many of the LDCs were already in or at risk of debt distress.
Left unchecked, he said, economic distress and vaccine inequity would make recoveries longer and more painful than necessary.
He said Pakistan was committed to safe and effective vaccines and allocation of resources for LDCs.
He pointed out that it was a matter of great concern that six LDCs had been classified as under extreme burden and added that the needy nations required a system of social protection.
Sharif called the need for reforming unequal financial architecture to address the special needs of LDCs.
He proposed a system of international technology combined with SDGs to provide an easy access to LDCs to develop and bridge their digital divide in order to help them contribute to knowledge-based economy.
The prime minister lauded the Doha Programme of Action 2031 particularly its concrete measures including the online universities, food stock system and investment support centre.
He assured that Pakistan would actively support the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action within the framework of south centric cooperation.
He congratulated the Emir of Qatar for immaculate arrangement for the conference after holding the FIFA event, and added that Qatar had further bolstered its standing in the comity of nation.
