Pakistan’s First National SDGs Dialogues

I participated as a panelist in a discussion on Emerging Technologies during Pakistan’s first-ever National SDGs Dialogues, held at the National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, on 16–17 March 2022.

About the National SDGs Dialogues

The National SDGs Dialogues were organized by NUST’s Office of Sustainability in collaboration with the SDGs Academy and PTV Official. This landmark initiative aimed to align national development priorities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a set of 17 global goals adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

These dialogues were Pakistan’s first comprehensive, multi-stakeholder platform dedicated exclusively to advancing SDGs through collaborative national action.

Dialogue Framework & Participation

The dialogues were designed around the Quintuple Helix Model, bringing together:

• Government and public-sector representatives

• Private-sector leadership

• Academia and research institutions

• Social and development organizations

• Civil society and youth representatives

A particularly commendable feature of the dialogues was strong youth participation. Students and youth leaders from across the country were invited as official representatives and given space to voice their perspectives on national challenges and development priorities.

Panel Focus – Emerging Technologies & SDGs

As a panelist, I contributed to discussions on how emerging technologies—including digital transformation, cyber security, and innovation ecosystems—can support Pakistan’s progress toward key SDGs by enabling:

• Sustainable digital infrastructure

• Innovation-driven economic growth

• Institutional transparency and resilience

• Youth empowerment and skills development

Distinguished Guests & National Representation

The dialogues were jointly sponsored by Schlumberger, Hashoo Group, PODA, Millennium Roots Group, and Subja Group.
Chief guests included:

• Mr. Shehryar Khan Afridi, Chairperson, Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir

• Mr. Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister of Food & Nutrition

• Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, Gambia

Over 800 participants attended across both days, with leadership from 100+ organizations and companies contributing to 10 high-level panel discussions focused on shaping Pakistan’s long-term socio-economic and sustainability roadmap.

Significance

Participation in this national-level dialogue highlighted the growing recognition of technology and cyber resilience as enablers of sustainable development. The forum reinforced the importance of inclusive, cross-sector collaboration and positioned youth, experts, and institutions as key drivers of Pakistan’s SDGs journey.