ISLAMABAD: The government has proposed establishing a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Unit with an allocation of Rs437.3 million from the national budget, without any financial contribution from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), according to a report.
The move has also revived questions about the performance of the earlier SDGs Unit set up in 2016 with a Rs1 billion allocation over five years. At the time, funding was meant to be shared equally between the federal government and UNDP. However, the government contributed Rs430 million, while the UN system provided Rs221 million — resulting in a 66.2% to 33.8% split.
Differences between the Planning Commission and UNDP over spending transparency were also reported, with concerns raised that the commission was not adequately consulted on financial decisions.
In 2022, the Planning Commission approved a locally funded SDGs Support Unit, but the initiative stalled following a change in government and the devastating floods that year.
Now, the planning ministry is seeking approval for a new SDGs project worth Rs437.256 million, again without UNDP funding, even as it considers handing management back to the UN agency.
Concerns have been raised that, if approved, the project may face limited scrutiny, with funds potentially being used for administrative expenses such as salaries, allowances, and other perks rather than directly advancing SDG targets.
According to the concept paper, the SDGs unit will function as a central secretariat and international focal point, aiming to strengthen coordination, improve data collection and reporting, and enhance policy planning through research and stakeholder engagement.
The proposal also includes setting up a research and resource centre, along with a digital dashboard to track SDG-related initiatives and align them with national targets.
Officials say the project is intended to support evidence-based policymaking, accelerate progress on development goals, and address key challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability over the coming years.