LAHORE: Collaborative efforts by civil society, academicians, politicians and policy makers are required for improving social indicators of the country and evaluating our commitments towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in order to set right targets in post2015 regime.

This was a consensus among participants of a dialogue on `Pakistan MDGs Status and Post-2015 Development Frameworl(` held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) on Friday. The dialogue was jointlyorganised by AWAZCDS-Pakistan, Pakistan Development Alliance, Global Call to Action against Poverty Pakistan, Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences.

The participants resolved that the world had already started setting targets for sustainable development goals whereas Pakistan should contribute in it at the planning stage to set realistic targets for future.

Lums Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Sohail Naqvi underlined importance of the role of universities and academic institutions in publication of academic and policy briefs on social and economic indicators for the benefit of policyorganised by AWAZCDS-Pakistan, Pakistan Development Alliance, Global Call to Action against Poverty Pakistan, Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences.

The participants resolved that the world had already started setting targets for sustainable development goals whereas Pakistan should contribute in it at the planning stage to set realistic targets for future.

Lums Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Sohail Naqvi underlined importance of the role of universities and academic institutions in publication of academic and policy briefs on social and economic indicators for the benefit of policymakers and public. He also emphasised inclusion of topics related to socio-economic development in curriculum.

Punjab University History Department Chairman Prof Dr Iqbal Chawla said the MDGs were directly related to the common people of Pakistan. He underlined the importance of role of academicians and higher education institutions in creating awareness about the MDGs and post-2015 development framework.

Muhammad Ziaur Rehman, convener of the Pakistan Development Alliance and Regional Coordinator Global Call to Action Against Poverty, said Pakistan was far from achieving16 targets set in 2000 and to be realised in 2015 under the MDGs that were a set of eight goals adopted by 189 countries, including Pakistan.

`Pakistan is spending less than 2pc of its gross domestic product on realisation of MDGs whereas it requires spending more than 10pc for the next 10 years to achieve the target,` he added.

Muhammad Murtaza Noor stressed that topics related to MDGs be included in curricula at primary, secondary, elementary and higher education levels.

The participants also demanded early local bodies elections in order to resolve problems faced by the general public at grassroots.16 targets set in 2000 and to be realised in 2015 under the MDGs that were a set of eight goals adopted by 189 countries, including Pakistan.

`Pakistan is spending less than 2pc of its gross domestic product on realisation of MDGs whereas it requires spending more than 10pc for the next 10 years to achieve the target,` he added.

Muhammad Murtaza Noor stressed that topics related to MDGs be included in curricula at primary, secondary, elementary and higher education levels.

The participants also demanded early local bodies elections in order to resolve problems faced by the general public at grassroots.