Reduce inequality within and among countries 

Blog writer and Project organizer:

Group member:              Muhammad Hamid Khan & Muhammad Sadiq

Depratment:                   Governance and Public Policy  

  

Couse :                            Public Administration and Governance 

Institute:                        National University of Modern Language Islamabad , H9. ( Main campus)

Project supervisor:       Dr. Athar Rashid 

SDG's 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The objective was to produce a set of universal goals that meet the urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges facing our world. All 17 Goals interconnect, meaning success in one affects success for others.

 
SDG 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries)

Sustainable development goal 10 is aiming to reduce inequality. This SDG is intended to reduce income inequality as well as those based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or another status within a country. The goal also highlights inequality among countries, including those related to representation, migration, and development assistance. The international community has made significant steps to reduce inequality. The high vulnerability still exists in the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states. However, inequality still persists and large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets.

Targets of SDG10 (Reduce inequality)

10.1 By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average

10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

10.5 Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations

10.6 Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions

10.7 Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies

10.a Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreements

10.b Encourage official development assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to States where the need is greatest, in particular least developed countries, African countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and programs

10.c By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent

Progress made by Pakistan:

Pakistan’s SDG Global Rank is 129 (out of 193) in 2021, improved by five ranks, 134 (out of 166) in 2020. Compared to its neighbours, Bangladesh’s rank stayed at 109 during 2020 and 2021. India’s rank declined by three, from 117 to 120 between 2020 to 2021

The government came up with an Rs1.24 trillion stimulus package to boost the overall economic situation and especially, in a bid to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on poverty (SDG 1), hunger (SDG 2), health (SDG 3) and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth.

  According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Covid-19 specific survey (2020), 27.31 million working population was affected. Related to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, 20.6m people could not work during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020.

  According to updated national data sources (Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement), access to electricity has increased by 3pc between 2015 to 2020 and stands at 96pc in 2020 including 5pc off-grid.

 According to an International Monetary Fund study (2021) on the costing of SDGs relating to education, health and physical capital (electricity, roads, and water and sanitation), additional annual spending of about 16pc of GDP will be required until 2030 from the public and private sectors combined to help these SDGs.

Progress made by NUML:

National University Modern Language Islamabad performed very well in achieving SDG's targets. With the time being, the university covered all the targets and did all activities related to all goals and particularly regarding goal 10 reducing inequality.

NUML is comprised of teachers and students from diverse national culture backgrounds. Not only students from four provinces of the country come to NUML but foreign students are also enrolled in different degree /diplomas/certification programs. Students from various countries including Afghanistan, Australia, Algeria, Canada, Chinese, India, Kashmir, Philippine, Sierra Leone, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Korea, and United States of America are a part of vibrant international NUML alumni. We also have a diverse faculty from China, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Japan and Uzbekistan. NUML holds positive repute in different embassies

·         Anti-Discrimination-Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure

·         Addressing Special Need

·         Kashmir Solidarity Day

·         Francophonie Day

·         A Talk by Russian Ambassador

Other collorations:

 National University of Modern Languages (NUML) and National University of Technology (NUTECH) signed a MoU on 31 January 2020 to conduct special courses of German and Japanese languages. NUML and National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTCC) signed a MoU in February 2020 to conduct Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Program. The program was based on six-month trainings on Artificial Intelligence, Information Security and Block Chain running total five batches of youngsters enrolled. NUML and Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on 18 May 2020 to equip the skilled work force with foreign languages. NUML and Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) signed a MoU on 13 August 2020 to collaborate in academic, training, joint research activities and thesis supervision with Department of Area Studies. NUML and Alliance Française, Islamabad (AFI) signed an Academic Cooperation Agreement (ACA) on 18 August 2020 to develop the friendly relations and cooperation in the realms of science, culture and education on the principles of respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Campus Drive:

Dr. Athar Rashid is a well-skilled teacher, who teaches us the subject Social action project. He assigned us a task to search about Sustainable Development Goals and aware community, particularly the students of the NUML. This activity is named NUML SDGs Marathon. My self-Muhammad Hamid Khan (MF-2031) and my group member Muhammad Siddiq (MF2005) Conducted an online webinar and delivered a presentation on Wednesday 23 February 2022 the time of the webinar was 12: 00 PM regarding the SDG 10 Reduce inequality with in-country and among the country. In that webinar, 17  students from NUML and from other universities such as Iqra, IIUI  participated. I conducted an interview with 27 university students.  We delivered lectures in different language classes such as English diploma, English certificate, and Arabic. Apart from that, we made charts and pamphlets and walk-in university premises. We are aware students about SDGs and particularly SDG 10 reduces inequality. The pictures were taken with groups and with individuals. Some of the students, we took their interviews. And asked them questions 1: what do you know SDGs? 2: what actions are taken by Pakistan? 3: How can we sustain resources for future generations? 4: How many goals stills Pakistan has achieved? 5: How can we individually play role in achieving the goals? 6: Do you know about the importance of sustaining resources? The whole experience was very good.

Activities:

Webinar Participants 

Webinar awareness and Pamphlet

Pamphlet distribution:

Interviews glimpse

 

Recommendation: 

 

There is no simple formula to reduce or end the poor-rich gap but certain steps can be taken to address inequality.

v  Household surveys –Quality surveys should be carried out so that policy decisions are accurate and relevant.

v  Inflation should be controlled as it increases poverty and inequality.  Taxation –Structural weakness in the tax system, Reduce indirect taxes.

v  Create opportunities.

v  Enforce minimum wage and there should be equal wage for man and women.

v  Create vocational skills centers.

 

v  Free quality schooling till Matriculation.

Concluding remarks: 

     Starting from the beginning, first, we conducted a webinar on February 23, 2022. There were 17 students from NUML and other universities such as IQRA and IIUI. We conducted a webinar for 15 minutes and delivered a lecture with the help of slides and at last, took questions from participants. The overall webinar was very good we did our part very and also participants were very interested to know about SDGs and particularly about SDG 10 reducing inequality within and among countries.

Secondly, we conducted awareness in  NUMl premises, during the walk we distributed pamphlets among students and told them the importance of SDGs and how we young generation can play role in achieving these goals. Apart from our awareness, most of the students were not aware with SDGs.

Last but not the least, we wrote a report on these whole activities regarding NUML SDG Marathon. In the report added all the activities. And we did a well-designed presentation on NUML SDG Marathons.

WE ARE THANKFUL TO THE TEACHER, DR. ATHAR RASHID WHO HELPED A LOT AND SUPERVISED VERY WELL.