The government of Pakistan confirmed the high-level commitment to join the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions on 18 July 2024, aiming to increase social protection coverage in the country and mitigate the impact of economic downturns on employment, business sustainability and the informal economy.
The official high-level commitment, signed by Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, was sent to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, Mohamed Yahya, to formally state the country’s interest to join the initiative and seek the support and collaboration of the UN system during the engagement process.
The official expression of interest highlights the country’s commitment to socio-economic development, recognizing the pivotal role that job creation, human capital development, and social and labour protection play in building a prosperous and equitable society that is resilient to global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national floods occurred in 2022.
With the support of the Global Accelerator, Pakistan aims to align domestic investment with national and regional priorities more effectively while creating decent jobs opportunities ensuring that the vulnerable groups are not left behind.
The engagement process with the Global Accelerator started with national consultations initiated with the UNRC and the government, represented by the Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. Following the official commitment, the government will coordinate consultations with national stakeholders to enable the development of a national roadmap that will set the direction for the implementation of the Accelerator in the country.
The Global Accelerator is a UN initiative that aims to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by supporting the creation of decent jobs and extending social protection to people who are currently excluded. It brings together Member States, UN agencies, international financial institutions, public development banks, social partners, civil society, and the private sector to create a virtuous cycle of sustainable development that positively impacts the lives of millions of people around the world and facilitates the transition to a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive world.