It is not due to lack of funds, but lack of ability and capacity of the policymakers to achieve acceptable level of millennium development goals in the country. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were projected in 2000 to address extreme poverty, hunger, disease and inadequate shelter, besides promoting gender equality, education and environmental in the world. However, after running from 2000 to 2015, the eight UN MDGs are expiring this year in September and are being replaced by a new set of 17 UN sustainable development goals at the start of 2016. In this connection, the International Monetary Fund and multilateral development banks are close to sign a deal to jointly provide $400 billion in order to attain sustainable growth in the world. The 15-year programme, which will run from 2016 to 2030, the aim to the proposed sustainable development goals will be to end poverty in all its forms everywhere and address the issues such as hunger, health, gender equality, education, water and sanitation, energy, economic growth, sustainable consumption and production, climate change, biodiversity and marine conservation.
Pakistan has welcomed the initiative in which massive financial support will be provided to the developing countries. The countries seeking funds will be required to meet the certain level of the sustainable development goals and funds will come through the rich economies. The institutions which are at forefront to extend the assistance include the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. The programme is a test for the developing nations as to how they respond to the world initiatives. Poverty is not confined to one country or one region, but it is an international phenomenon. However, the governments are expected to work out possible ways and means to property finance to turn their aspirations into reality. The world leaders will meet at the UN headquarters in September this year to discuss the sustainable development goals, which the experts describe an ambitious development agenda for the emerging economies. According to experts, many countries will miss the goals, keeping in view the poor performance of the developing countries during the last 15 years.
The problem with developing countries is the lack of ability and capacity to keep up pace with the fast changing world. Billions of dollars loans and grants will not serve any purpose unless inherent flaws in the government machinery are removed and capacity of the official machinery is enhanced. The previous Pakistan People’s Party government had started Benazir Income Support Programme, but it did not help end poverty. Instead the government should have stared an economic plan to improve the lot of the poor people.
