Punjab Parliamentarians Conference sets new benchmark with First Cross-Provincial Parliamentary Accord on SDGs

By Asim Shahzad

LAHORE: second session of the Punjab Parliamentarians Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Championing Provincial Action for Agenda 2030—held at PC Hotel Lahore in collaboration with the Punjab Assembly and UNDP—marked a landmark moment in Pakistan’s parliamentary engagement with sustainable development.

For the first time, a provincial government led a national parliamentary initiative that brought together legislators from the National Assembly, Senate, and all four Provincial Assemblies on a unified platform dedicated to Agenda 2030.

A major outcome of the conference was the presentation of the Parliamentary Accord on the SDGs—the first consensus-based document formulated through cross-provincial parliamentary deliberations. Drafted by the Punjab Assembly’s young SDG Task Force members, the Accord reflects shared national priorities rooted in provincial realities. Its development underscores the growing role of provincial legislatures as drivers of Pakistan’s development agenda in the post–18th Amendment era.

The session opened with remarks from Ms. Asifa Khan, Director of the Parliamentary Development Unit (PDU), who praised the collaborative efforts behind the conference. This was followed by a presentation by Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT, who highlighted Pakistan’s SDG performance trends and acknowledged the Speaker Punjab Assembly’s leadership in strengthening legislative engagement.

UNDP Senior Advisor Naveed Ahmad Sheikh spoke about the vision of Agenda 2030 and the importance of data, institutional coordination, and inclusive policymaking. UNDP’s Shahbano outlined provincial progress on SDG localization and emphasized the need for innovative partnerships to accelerate implementation.

An interactive plenary allowed legislators to share constituency-level insights. Parliamentary Secretary Sultan Bajwa highlighted social welfare priorities, while MPA Uzma Kardar stressed the importance of women’s empowerment. Kanwal Liaquat, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, emphasized climate challenges and the utility of satellite monitoring. MPA Adnan Afzal Chattha discussed out-of-school children and skill development, and Ahmed Iqbal Chaudhary underscored the need for climate resilience and noted a rising wave of youth leadership in the Punjab Assembly. Other members highlighted issues such as women’s protection, child welfare, and anti-trafficking measures.

UNDP Resident Representative Samuel Rizk called for stronger parliamentary oversight to complement SDG understanding and implementation.

Concluding the session, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb reflected on Pakistan’s growing institutional commitment to the SDGs. She praised the Punjab Assembly, PDU, and UNDP for advancing an inclusive development agenda that leaves no one behind.

The 2025 conference has set a new benchmark for provincial-led national coordination, energizing Pakistan’s SDG commitment with a unified parliamentary voice and a renewed spirit of collaboration.