The Government of Pakistan and the United Nations in Pakistan signed the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF), also known as the One Programme III (OPIII) 2018-2022 at a ceremony held in the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on Wednesday. Secretary EAD and United Nations Resident Coordinator signed the document along with other UN agencies working in Pakistan. Syed Ghazanfar Abbas Jillani, Secretary EAD remarked that the signing is an important milestone for the Government of Pakistan as it reinforces 70 years of trusted partnership with the UN. Pakistan is amongst the first countries that adopted the SDGs as National Development Goals and one of the few countries that is investing its own resources to achieve the SDGs. We are confident that the new 5-year programme will create impactful results for the people of Pakistan, he added. The 5-year partnership framework sets out the direction of the UN’s support to the Government of Pakistan to achieve the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNSDF/OPIII sets-out 10 key outcomes in areas in which the UN can leverage its strong comparative advantage in support of Pakistan’s commitment to the SDGs; inclusive and sustainable economic growth; decent work for all; improved health coverage and equitable WASH services; better nutrition; lasting food security and sustainable agriculture practices; greater resilience; quality education and learning; gender equality and dignity for all; strengthened governance; and more effective social protection. Strong partnerships and country-ownership are the twin pillars of the UNSDF/OPIII. The programme is aligned both with the SDGs and the aspirations of Pakistan’s Vision 2025. It commits the UN to greater inter-agency collaboration while working closer than ever with our partners-federal, provincial and local governments, the private sector, civil society, donors and the international community - to deliver a more prosperous, inclusive and equitable future for Paksitan’ said Neil Buhne, UN Resident Coordinator. Since 2009, the UN has contributed over $2.3 billion to support the Government of Paksitan to tackle its development challenges that has benefitted millions of Pakistanis throughout the country.