*PAKISTAN** CALL FOR ACTION PLAN TO TACKLE FOOD CRISES*

UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK, MAY15,2008:  A concerted plan is needed to face the
serious challenges faced by many developing countries today to provide
affordable food to their peoples, specially the poorest and most vulnerable.

This was stated by Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of
Pakistan to the United Nations while addressing  the High-level segment of
the UN Commission on Sustainable Development(CSD-16),here today.

While  appreciating the focus on agriculture, food and Africa as most timely
and appropriate, Ambassador Munir Akram stressed that any action plan "must
include emergency actions including humanitarian aid to severely stressed
people and countries, provide inputs to ensure larger food production  and
 supplies at moderate prices"

Welcoming the establishment of a UN Task Force by Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon, he expressed the confidence that it will help to evolve a
comprehensive and coordinated Plan of Action at the forthcoming Rome meeting
and significant political commitment at the highest level to implement this
Plan of Action at the G-8 Summit and at the next UN General Assembly.
* *
        Recounting the economic challenges confronting the global
economy, Ambassador Munir Akram stated that we are also facing an economic
slow down; a two-year decline in ODA; a credit crisis in the world's largest
economies, accompanied by a decline in the value of foreign exchange
reserves; an impasse in the trade negotiations and the danger of a new wave
of protectionism.  Simultaneously, the developing countries confront the
challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, suffering
the most from impacts for which they are the least responsible. .

* *


* *

          Ambassador Munir Akram stressed that sustainable development can
only be realized within a strategic framework that encompasses all its three
pillars – economic growth, social development and environmental protection.
Presently, developing countries are being driven by circumstances and
external influences, into different policy directions. On the one hand, they
must seek sustained growth at fairly high levels to ensure poverty
eradication and a life of dignity for their peoples while  on the other
 they must create the social standards and infrastructure to ensure that the
benefits of growth are equitably distributed and that it becomes
sustainable.   What is required is the evolution of an integrated
development 'model', which combines the realizations of the goals
encapsulated in the MDGs and IADGs,he urged.

          While  developing  an integrated sustainable development "model"
at the international level  Ambassador Nunir Akram  opined that it should be
based on the identification of the requirements of national models, not on a
prior determination based only on global findings that often ignore the
priorities and constraints of the developing countries.

No developing country can be pressed to give up reliance on the carbon
economy  until alternative and affordable solutions are demonstrated and
made available to them. They need access to and indigenous application of
technologies, they need help for the effective deployment of available and
emerging technologies and guaranteed access to future technologies, he
urged.
.
Ambassador Munir Akram  stated that the financial flows required to ensure
realization of the sustainable development 'model' in developing countries
will be much larger than the levels envisaged in the context of the MDGs and
the IADGs. The amounts anticipated to finance climate adaptation and
integration are considerably higher – over 200 billion dollars annually.

*Statement by H.E. Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the
United Nations at the High-level Segment of the 16th Session of the UN
Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-16)*
*New York**, 15 May 2008*

*Mr. Chairman,*

          Let me at the outset express the deepest condolences and
solidarity of the Pakistan delegation to the delegations of Myanmar and
People's Republic of China on the tragic natural disasters which have struck
their countries with severe loss of lives and considerable damage.

2.                 It is my pleasure to make this contribution to the
High-level Segment of the Sixteen Session of the UN Commission on
Sustainable Development.
3.                 Pakistan wishes to associate itself with the statement
made by Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of G-77 and China. We would like to
make the following additional comments.

*Mr. Chairman,*

4.                 The Commission is meeting at an important juncture, when
we are facing a plethora of development challenges. There is a food and
energy crisis in many of the poorer countries; with food prices having
doubled and in some areas tripled, as also the cost of energy. We are also
facing a global economic slow down; a two-year decline in ODA; a credit
crisis in the world's largest economies, accompanied by a decline in the
value of foreign exchange reserves; an impasse in the trade negotiations and
the danger of a new wave of protectionism. The series of commitments,
reflected in the IADGs, including in Agenda 21 and the Rio Principles are
far from being implemented. Simultaneously, the developing countries
confront the challenges posed by climate change and environmental
degradation, suffering the most from impacts for which they are the least
responsible. The more frequent occurrence of natural disasters – most
recently, the cyclone that hit Myanmar and the earthquake in China – add to
and compound the challenge of development.

*Mr. Chairman,*

5.                 The focus of this CSD Session on agriculture, food and
Africa is most timely and appropriate. The serious challenges faced by so
many developing countries today to provide affordable food to their peoples,
specially the poorest and most vulnerable, requires a concerted plan of
action. This must include emergency actions, including humanitarian aid to
severely stressed people and countries. It must also provide inputs to
ensure larger food production in the near term, inter alia, to ensure
supplies and moderate prices. In the longer term we need to address the
underlying policy issues which have led to this food emergency in the first
place – agricultural policies that maintain subsidies by the rich while
eroding the food security of the poor; the availability of energy and
electricity at affordable prices; the diversion of food for fuel; the
generation of adequate resources and application of existing and emerging
technologies to enlarge sustainable food production in the developing
countries, specially in arid areas, affected by enlarging desertification.

6.                We welcome the establishment of the UN Task Force by
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. We trust that it will help to evolve a
comprehensive and coordinated Plan of Action at the forthcoming Rome meeting
and significant political commitment at the highest level to implement this
Plan of Action at the G-8 Summit and at the next UN General Assembly.



* *
*Mr. Chairman,*

7.                 While such a comprehensive Plan of Action is required to
deal with the current food challenges, it is clear that sustainable
development can only be realized within a strategic framework that
encompasses all its three pillars – economic growth, social development and
environmental protection. Unfortunately, at this time, developing countries
are being driven by circumstances and external influences, into different
policy directions. On the one hand, they must seek sustained growth at
fairly high levels to ensure poverty eradiation and a life of dignity for
their peoples. On the other hand, they must create the social standards and
infrastructure to ensure that the benefits of growth are equitably
distributed and that it becomes sustainable. Simultaneously, they are
obliged to respond to the impact and imperatives of climate change and
environmental damage.

8.                 Despite the Principles, Agendas and Action Plans adapted
at Rio Conference in Johannesburg and at Bali; despite the deliberations and
decisions of this Commission, what is still required is the evolution of an
integrated development 'model', which combines the realizations of the goals
encapsulated in the MDGs and IADGs and the goals and principles reflected in
Rio, Johannesburg, the UNFCC and at Bali.

9.                 This requires the concrete identification of policies for
such integrated development at the national level and in concrete national
contexts. Obviously, one size will not fit all. But, several "models" for
such integrated development could be evolved through research and analysis
at the national level in a series of countries in different development
contexts – the SIDs, least developed countries, in Africa in more populous
countries, energy-dependent and energy producing countries. At the same
time, it is also necessary to develop a global strategic framework that
ensures policy integration at the global level; enables effective monitoring
of challenges and responses; and enhances coordination among contributing
agencies and other actors.

10.             The development of an integrated sustainable development
"model" at the international level should be based on the identification of
the requirements of national models, not on a prior determination based only
on global findings that often ignore the priorities and constraints of the
developing countries.

11.             There are several areas where concerted and mutually
reinforcing policies and actions are required at the international level.
First, among these is Technology. Technology is essential for development.
No developing country can be pressed to give up reliance on the carbon
economy that is essential to ensure growth, until alternative and affordable
solutions are demonstrated and made available to them. They need access to
and indigenous application of technologies, notwithstanding the restrictions
of the TRIPs agreement; they need help for the effective deployment of
available and emerging technologies, and guaranteed access to future
technologies.

12.             Second, the financial flows required to ensure realization
of the sustainable development 'model' in developing countries will be much
larger than the levels envisaged in the context of the MDGs and the IADGs.
The mere doubling of ODA will be grossly insufficient. The amounts
anticipated to finance climate adaptation and integration are considerably
higher – over 200 billion dollars annually for adaptation alone. In this
context, the recent decline in ODA is most disheartening. A concerted effort
is required to evolve policies and mechanisms – both official and private –
which can generate the magnitude of financial resources required to provide
integrated sustainable development models in the developing countries. The
Doha Conference on FfD should not be artificially restricted to a review of
the Monterrey Consensus; it should respond to the challenge of financing
Integrated Sustainable Development.

13.             Third, we need to address two institutional issues; One, how
can national institutions be strengthened to enable a country to respond to
an integrated model of sustainable development? Two, how can the vast array
of international institutions be more effectively coordinated and
efficiently managed?

14.             The CSD is uniquely placed to address all these three issues
– of technology, finance and governance – with its unique mandate to promote
policy guidance and coordination for the realization of sustainable
development. The international community must utilize this body more fully
and operationally to realize its comprehensive and important mandate.

15.             It is the intention of some countries and experts to
initiate a Research Project to evolve such an Integrated Model for
Sustainable Development based on national realities and international
cooperation.

16.             Pakistan looks forward to contributing to this objective and
promoting the model of sustainable development at the national and global
levels.

*I thank you, Mr. Chairman*