Aseefa Bhutto vows closer cooperation with UN on SDGs

ISLAMABAD: First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday met United Nations Resident Coordina­tor Mohamed Yahya and representatives of different UN agencies in Pakistan at Aiwan-i-Sadr and vowed to work together with the world body on development and climate change. According to the Presidency, the meeting focused on Pakistan’s cooperation with the United Nations system, national development priorities, climate resilience, education, social protection, health and sustainable development. Welcoming the UN resident coordinator, the first lady said Pakistan highly valued its close and multifaceted cooperation with the United Nations and attached great importance to the work of the UN country team in Pakistan. She appreciated the contributions of UN agencies, funds and programmes working across the country and expressed the desire to further strengthen cooperation, particularly in the areas of public health, children, sustainable development goals and climate change. UN says next 12 months crucial for polio eradication as first lady calls for AI use to improve outreach The first lady reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with the UN country team in advancing national development priorities and plans. During the briefing, she was briefed on the work of various UN agencies in supporting Pakistan’s development, humanitarian and social sector priorities. Mohamed Yahya thanked her for championing the cause of polio eradication and noted that the next 12 months would be crucial for achieving this objective. The first lady underscored the importance of innovation in public health and said emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, should be utilised to help ensure that polio vaccines reached every household. She also acknowledged the UN’s continued assistance in strengthening maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition services across Pakistan. In this regard, she noted the im­­portance of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme in improving outcomes