The chairman Steering Committee of the program, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed during the cabinet meeting held in November 23, 2017 informed the cabinet that although the programme was being successfully implemented yet a need had been felt for expansion/enhancement of the scope of the programme. The cabinet considered and approved those areas which were covered under the framework of SDGs with already approved guidelines in respect of Prime Minister's global SDGs achievement programme.
The matter was discussed in the meeting of the steering committee of the programme held on December 4, 2017 in the light of the federal cabinet and it was proposed that following areas may be added to the programme: (i) the existing social sector area of the approved program provides only for schools and colleges (both existing and new). This is urgently required to check the downward trend in international ranking of Pakistan in education related areas; (ii) purchase of cleaning machinery based on the latest technology to improve cleanliness and sanitation, in relaxation of already approved guidelines and; (iii) provision of establishing pedestrian crossings, bridges, flyovers and underpasses on railways crossings which are urgently required for safety and convenience of general public.
The sources said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has already given a freehand to the departments concerned by delegating approval powers for development schemes worth over Rs 30 million each in the constituencies of parliamentarians. According to chairman steering committee of the programme, he pointed out that the existing social sector area of the program cleared the way for provision of missing facilities only for schools. However, such facilities like furniture and fixtures as well as their maintenance were also required to be provided for higher secondary schools - both existing and new - in order to strengthen infrastructure of the education sector.
Secondly, at the time of initiating the SDGs programme in 2016, an appropriate role for local governments and bodies could not be defined as local bodies' elections were going on at that time.
Initially, he suggested the setting up of union council offices and allocation of grants and funds for the operation and maintenance of public infrastructure and facilities like safe drinking water, tube-wells, etc, established under the SDGs programme, by the local government institutions and bodies.
He also called for including in the programme the purchase and maintenance of latest mechanical cleaning machinery for urban and rural areas.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017