14 – 17 January 2019 | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Upon the invitation of the Local Councils Association of the Punjab (LCAP), UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia I. Tjandradewi carried out a mission in Pakistan and conducted a series of meetings with partner institution namely: the Delegation of the European Union, National Parliamentary Taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Mayor of Islamabad, Local Councils Associations (LCAs) Board Members, Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, and civil society and government officials.
Courtesy Visit to EU Delegation Pakistan
Secretary General made a courtesy visit to the EU Delegation to Pakistan, and discussed with representatives on the upcoming project: LEAD for SDGs Localisation, which will be funded by the EU. The discussion covered a broad-range of issues including the project’s commencement on 1 March 2019.
Supporting Local Government Association
Secretary General was invited by Association of Development of Local Government (ADLG) to participate as an observer to the election of presidency in Islamabad on 14 January 2019. ADLG is the national association of local government representatives in Pakistan and the Executive Body of ADLG is comprised of the four provincial Local Council Associations (LCAs) members. LCAs unanimously elected Mr. Mian Rajan Sultan Peerzada as President of the ADLG. SG Bernadia congratulated the LCAs members for raising LCAs as a strong body of local government representatives in Pakistan. She further congratulated the newly elected president of Mr. Mian Rajan Sultan Peerzada and hoped that in his leadership ADLG will play an effective role in promoting good local self-governance and practices of local government in Pakistan. She also highlighted UCLG ASPAC upcoming project “LEAD for SDGs Localisation” in two provinces i.e. Sindh and Balochistan of Pakistan. Members of LCA Balochistan and Sindh welcomed UCLG ASPAC and ensured their full support for effective implementation of the project.
Strengthening National-Local Collaboration for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan
SG Bernadia further laid the ground for further collaboration in LEAD SDGs programme with Mr. Riaz Fatyana, Convener National Parliamentary Task force on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), his team, and Ms. Kanwal Shauzab Parliamentary Secretary on 16 January 2019 at National Parliamentary SDGs Task Force office Pakistan. The discussion resulted in an agreement for having mutual cooperation for localisation of SDGs in Pakistan.
Stronger Partnership with Member
SG Bernadia also took the opportunity to strengthen partnership with new member, Islamabad. In her meeting with Mr. Sheikh Anser Mayor of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) on 16 January 2018 at Mayor’s office Islamabad Pakistan, it was agreed between MIC and UCLG ASPAC for further enhancing MCI-UCLG ASPAC mutual technical cooperation, linkages development, and staff capacity-building and knowledge management in the IMC prioritised sectors. Furthermore, the MCI staff members would also benefit from capacity building and other activities of the LEAD for SDGs project in Pakistan.
