PAECO Members re-affirm commitment to jointly mitigate impacts of COVID-19 on SDGs implementation

Islamabad; 01 June 2021 – Lawmakers from Economic Cooperation Organization countries adopted a resolution to form a committee on Sustainable Development Goals. Members re-affirmed their commitment to jointly mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on SDGs implementation in the region.

It was proposed by Convener Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs Riaz Fatyana during the panel discussion on the sidelines of Parliamentary Assembly of the ECO countries in Islamabad today (Tuesday).

The committee will come into being after getting nod from Executive Council of PAECO.

Riaz Fatyana said Covid-19 has adversely affected the implementation of SDGs in developing countries. He emphasized on the significance of regional cooperation for implementation of SDGs amongst the member countries.

The dignitaries called for strengthening regional cooperation to tackle the setbacks caused by Covid-19.

The SDGs Secretariat of the National Assembly of Pakistan hosted a Panel Discussion Session on “Impact of COVID-19 on the Implementation of SDGs in the Region.” The Breakout Session of the Second General Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO) was chaired by  Mr. Riaz Fatyana, MNA / Convener National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs and was Co-Chaired by Key Members of the Taskforce.

The aim of the session was to promote Parliamentary partnerships for regional integration and to accelerate working on global agenda in times of the ongoing pandemic.

The session included three thematic discussion sessions, namely; The Race for COVID-19 Vaccination, which was chaired by  Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination / Convener Sub-Group on SDG 3.

Open Data for a More Effective Covid-19 Response and SDGs Implementation, which was chaired by Hon. Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, MNA / Convener Sub-Group on SDGs Scorecard Development; and What can Parliaments do to Achieve SDGs, which was chaired by Hon. Dr. Nafisa Shah, MNA / Member National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs.

The Session was attended by Parliamentary Delegates from; Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran (Virtual), Kazakhstan (Virtual), and Turkey.

Speaking on the occasion,  Mr. Riaz Fatyana said, “In light of the on-going novel pandemic, the Parliamentary functioning and business has suffered to a great extent but it is essential to remember that Parliamentarians are at the forefront of the fight to prevent, slow the spread, ensure SOPs and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on society and our economy.