Provinces share budget requirements at Donors Strategic Forum meeting

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ISLAMABAD (ABC): A meeting of the Donors Strategic Forum was held in the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C), Islamabad in the chair of Dr. Nadeem Jan,  Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Economic Affairs Division;  Additional Secretary, Ministry of NHSR&C; Director General (Population Program Wing), Ministry of NHSR&C; Joint Secretary, Economic Affairs Division; Representatives of UNFPA CDO, USAID, World Bank, Australian High Commission and others.

The Donors Strategic Forum has been constituted for follow up actions of International Donors’ Conference held on 26 November 2021 under the chair of the President of Pakistan at the Awan-i-Sadder, Islamabad. The Conference was arranged to tap financial resources from the donor community for the complete operationalization of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Population developed in pursuance of the Recommendations on Population approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in its 40th meeting and to ensure resources for new NAP (2024-2030).

In the meeting, the provinces and regions shared their budget requirements and the gap that requires donors’ support to achieve the national targets of population set for 2025 and 2030 based on International Commitments and recommendation of population conference held in Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan in July 2023. The representatives of the donor community assured their all possible support to enhance the agenda of population in Pakistan.

The Minister concluded the Donors Strategic Forum Meeting by re-iterating that rapid population growth i.e. 2.5% per annum is a serious issue of Pakistan, and all stakeholders including Federal Government, Provincial Governments, political leadership, development partners and implementing partners in public and private sectors, among others should play their important role for the management of population in the country.

The Minister also stressed that regular interaction with the relevant Donor’s must be ensured through a Coordination Committee as established in the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) called Donor Coordination Committee.