United Nations Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya on Wednesday expressed the global body’s strong commitment to supporting the Government of Pakistan in bridging its financing gap to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The United Nations stands ready to work hand-in-hand with the government to help mobilize resources and technical expertise needed to achieve the SDGs,” he told Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal during a meeting in Islamabad. “We understand the significant financing challenges many countries face, and we are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. Our joint focus is not only on financing, but also on strengthening national systems to deliver lasting development results,” he added.
Welcoming the support, Iqbal reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the SDG agenda. “We deeply appreciate the U.N.’s continued support. Pakistan is working tirelessly to achieve the SDGs, with a strong emphasis on critical goals such as improving food security and reducing child stunting,” he said. “These are priorities in our national development strategy, and we believe that with enhanced collaboration and financial support, we can make faster progress.”
During the meeting, the minister stressed on food insecurity continuing to prove a major obstacle to children’s development and overall progress toward SDGs. “Currently, 38 percent of children in Pakistan are stunted due to food insecurity—this is not just a health crisis but a developmental emergency,” he said. “Countries across our region successfully tackled this issue more than 30 years ago. We are significantly behind and must treat this as an urgent national priority,” he added.
Iqbal also underscored the need for intensified efforts and partnerships to address malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly among children and vulnerable populations. Stunting not only affects a child’s physical and cognitive growth, but also hinders their ability to contribute meaningfully to society in the long term.
The U.N. welcomed the minister’s call to action and reaffirmed its readiness to support Pakistan in mobilizing resources and expertise to accelerate progress on nutrition and related SDG targets.