Government’s social agenda is focused on people, asserts Lodhi
new york — Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was taking steps to address poverty and help the underprivileged to gain access to education, employment and health care, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, has said.
Speaking in the annual session of the Commission for Social Development, Lodhi detailed priorities of the government and emphasised its commitment to the socio-economic welfare of the people especially the marginalised sections of society .
She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s people-centric policies were aimed at promoting financial inclusion, rural development, provision of educational opportunities, access to health care and poverty eradication. The Pakistani envoy also called for global cooperation to eradicate poverty and ensure social development for all.
In this regard, she underscored the need for national and international commitment and action to reduce inequalities.
Faced with a youth bulge, Pakistan, she said, was looking to reape a demographic dividend by providing opportunities for the growth of its young population and to maximise the potential of youth.
“Lodhi said: In a world where economies rely on sophisticated skills and well-trained citizens, my country considers education as an investment in its future”.
The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme envisages a broad canvas of steps aimed at enabling young
people to access opportunities through information technology.
“At the same time”, she said: “Our new government has instituted a National Health Programme to provide health care to underprivileged citizens. ‘Insaf Sehat Cards’ will potentially benefit over 15 million families for a start”.
Lodhi also highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment. She pointed to social safety initiatives like the Benazir Income Support Programme as an example of help being extended to vulnerable segments of society to overcome poverty. —