Poverty Reduction Be Met As Daunting Challenge Collectively – Jamali

from International News Network

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Senate, Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali has expressed the confidence that greater interaction among the Parliamentarians of the South-Asian Region will help achieve the twin objectives of poverty reduction and good governance.

He was addressing the concluding session of the 3rd Asia and India Region’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPA) here on Tuesday

The Deputy Chairman said the CPA has provided Parliamentarians of the member states an effective and invaluable platform to share their experiences, discuss collective problems and workout joint strategies that may help implement the socio-economic reforms besides promoting good governance in their respective regions. He said that poverty reduction is a daunting challenge which must be met with a concerted response. He called for sharing of experiences and best practices among the member states to achieve the desired results.

He expressed the view that the Parliament’s budget Committees can be strengthened to help ensure that national allocations match MDGs plans and commitments. The same capacity can be reinforced in women’s causes. Health and education Committees of Parliament can ensure that progress towards MDGs achievements are on course and appropriately resourced. These interventions can strengthen the national democratic process of oversight and accountability for goals.

The Deputy Chairman said the role of Parliamentarians in achieving poverty reduction and MDGs is very vital and definitive. By holding their respective Governments accountable for fulfillment of their commitment towards MDGs and ensuring better budgetary allocation for poverty reduction, they can make sure that the country remains on track in pursuit of its goals, he added. Mir Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali stated that we must share our experiences, ensure technological and policy interventions alongwith pooling our resources to achieve the desirable level of human development. Curbing poverty is the major challenge for achieving equitable and sustainable development and in relation to human health, livelihood and economic growth, he observed. He termed the holding of 3rd CPA as a major step forward towards a more peaceful and prosperous South-Asia.

The Deputy Chairman further said that Pakistan has been striving very hard to reduce poverty in the country. The Government, he said is taking a holistic view of the whole problem. The poverty reduction strategy is being pursued as an on-going process of dialogue with the civil society. The strategy places considerable emphasis on taking advantages of the opportunities offered by globalization, he observed. The Deputy Chairman also underscored the need of sharing of knowledge, experiences and best practices among the member states of CPA to achieve the desired results.

Later, Senator Wasim Sajjad, Leader of the House in the Senate hosted a luncheon reception in honour of the delegates attending the 3rd Asia and India Regions CPA Conference, which was also attended by Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro, Deputy Chairman Senate, Mr. Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali and the Members of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Earlier, the delegates visited the Parliament House where they were briefed about the working, role and functions of the Lower House as well as the Upper House.