ISLAMABAD, Feb 21 (APP):Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz Wednesday asked
Ministry of Human Rights (MOHR) to establish legal aid cell in collaboration
with bar councils to facilitate victims of human rights violations.
He said that it was important for all the stakeholders particularly government, civil society and international partners
to enhance cooperation and urged international development partners to collaborate with MOHR to support its programs and initiatives.
The Deputy Chairman said that the government was committed to achieve the global
sustainable development goals.
The seven pillars of vision 2025 were fully aligned with these goals, he added.
“There is a need for MOHR to develop
cooperation with other federal and provincial stake holders in order to judiciously
utilize resources,” he commented.
He was speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony day of the first ever three-day
International Conference on Human Rights (HR) titled, “Owing human Rights for a
Better World” organized by the Federal Ministry of Human Rights.
Sartaj Aziz said that with the active role of the parliament and strong support of
civil society, there had been valuable addition of new legislations especially
on the rights of women, minorities and children in past ten years.
He said that it was important for all the stakeholders particularly government, civil society and international partners
to enhance cooperation and urged international development partners to
collaborate with MOHR to support its programs and initiatives.
Federal Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights, Rabiya Javeri
Agha said that the cause of human rights united all sections of the society.
“The government of Pakistan is cognitive of its duties in the realm of
human rights. Legislation and policy initiatives, presenting and defending
international treaty reports, the set-up of human rights institutions from
federal to grassroots level, national action plans and financial inclusion
strategies, electoral reforms, gender budgeting and the provision of social
nets are some of the manifestations of this commitment,” she remarked.
In the concluding day sessions on “Right to Development” and “Role
of Development Planning in Pakistan to Promote Right to Development: Past,
Present and Future,” the speakers discussed at length the correlation of human rights
with the development.
Neil Buhne, United Nations Resident Coordinator said that under sustainable development
goals, the prime focus was to reach people who were left behind and invisible in
the society. In Pakistani scenario, he added, that the nation had 60 percent
population below 30 years of age and among them, mostly were under employed.
They also needed to focus on agriculture as it was the back bone of the country’s economy, he added.
A representative of International Labour Organization, Ingrid Christensen Pakistan ratified all core convention on human rights. She further said in comparison with other countries of the region, Pakistan was
raking lead in protection of fundamental rights of masses.
But still a number of challenges like gender gap, customary practices, partiarical society etc. creating
hurdles in achieving their set goals.
Zamir Akram, representative of UN working group on Right to development shared that there was
a dire need for International cooperation for peace and development.
He added that environment degradation, absence of good governance, were major challenges which
needed to be addressed on priority.
Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Ishrat Hussain said that the best
development model to ensure prosperity was combination of
state-centered, private-oriented and civil society-driven models.
He suggested third party evaluation of government projects by the civil society
and utilization of the skills of retired bureaucrats for planning and implementations
of development plans with human rights perspective. He also stressed for homogenization
of provincial and federal budgets.
Member Social Section Ministry of Planning, Development and Social Reforms Asma Haider suggested
engaging and strengthening local government terming it the only way to move towards
participatory development.
Sania Nishtar, representative World Health Organization stressed
on balance between population and resources, strong institutions and
improve Public-private partnership for better service delivery.
Dr. Abid Sulehri, Executive Director Sustainable Development
Policy Institute, (SDPI) asked for trusting in the wisdom of community rather
than in forcing your own thesis on them as they are living in the situation and
knew problems in depth.
The conference was attended by international human rights experts, UN representatives, parliamentarians, government
officials, Commissions on Human Rights, diplomats, members of civil society organizations, NGOs, INGOs, academia and the media.