Pakistan pledges resilient and inclusive urban future at United Nations

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 18 (APP): The Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, has reaffirmed in the UN General Assembly Pakistan’s dedication to creating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments.

Speaking at the High-Level Meeting on the New Urban Agenda, he framed the midterm review as a vital chance to evaluate global progress.

He emphasized the urgent need to renew international commitments as rapid urbanization increasingly strains housing, transport, safety, and the environment.”

The New Urban Agenda was adopted in 2016 at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development in Quito, Ecuador, and endorsed by the 193-member Assembly in that same year.

It contains a shared vision that properly planned and managed urbanization can serve as a powerful tool for sustainable development, and the Secretary-General is tasked with reporting on progress towards the implementation of the Agenda every four years.  The report for this year — and today’s high-level meeting — serves as the Agenda’s mid-term review.

In this regard, Rana Mashhood outlined a series of practical measures being undertaken by Pakistan to address these challenges, including the devastating urban and riverine floods of 2025, which claimed over 1,000 lives across the country.

Pakistan, he said, is developing a National Urban Strategy in collaboration with UN-Habitat to ensure that climate resilience is integrated into urban planning from the outset.

The PMYP Chairman highlighted the rebuilding of more than 400,000 homes for displaced families, with resilience and improved planning standards forming the cornerstone of broader housing initiatives.

He also highlighted the government’s efforts to expand affordable and low-emission public transport systems, strengthen social protection through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)—which now reaches more than nine million families nationwide—and enhance urban safety through the expansion of Safe City authorities, including real-time monitoring and integrated command centres across the provinces.

Emphasizing that Pakistan’s youth are central to the country’s urban future, Rana Mashhood noted that nearly 67 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30. As increasing numbers of young people migrate to urban centres, he stressed that expanding access to education, skills development, employment and entrepreneurship is essential to ensuring that urbanization becomes a driver of inclusive prosperity.

In this context, he highlighted the launch of ‘Pur Azm’ Pakistan, an initiative of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, which connects young people with skills development, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship pathways through collaboration with national and international partners.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to international cooperation, the PMYP Chairman said the country stands ready to work with all Member States to share its experiences and contribute to practical, people-centred solutions for sustainable urban development.

He expressed hope that the midterm review would produce meaningful outcomes that improve the lives of present and future generations.