Govt proposes Rs437 million SDGs support unit without UNDP funding, questions raised over past performance

The federal government has proposed setting up a new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Support Unit with an allocation of Rs437.3 million, without any financial contribution from the United Nations Development Programme, The News reported. 

The proposal comes as questions persist over the performance of the earlier SDGs Support Unit established in 2016, which had a total allocation of Rs1 billion over five years under a cost-sharing arrangement between the federal government and the UNDP.

Under that arrangement, the government contributed Rs430 million, while the UN arm provided Rs221 million, resulting in a funding split of 66.2% from Pakistan and 33.8% from the UN side, lower than initially planned.

Differences between the Planning Commission and the UNDP over spending decisions were raised during the earlier programme, with objections recorded by former deputy chairman Sartaj Aziz regarding financial arrangements and oversight.

In 2022, the Planning Commission moved to independently fund and manage the SDGs Support Unit and initiated recruitment, but the initiative was halted following the floods that year and subsequent change in government.

The latest proposal, led by the planning ministry, seeks approval of a concept paper to re-establish the unit, with management again expected to involve the UNDP, despite no direct financial input from the organisation.

According to the concept paper, the unit will function as an SDGs Secretariat and serve as an international focal point, supporting coordination across federal and provincial levels, improving data collection and reporting, and strengthening oversight mechanisms.

The project also includes plans to engage think tanks and academic institutions through a research and resource centre, alongside development of a dashboard linking research outputs with SDGs targets and policy actions.

Officials say the unit will support evidence-based policymaking, consolidate existing initiatives, and enhance monitoring of poverty reduction, inequality, and environmental indicators over the next eight years.

The proposal also aims to expand the use of administrative data for tracking SDGs indicators by improving coordination among departments and standardising reporting systems.