OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2017 SDC SPECIAL BULLETIN Vol 24 No. 4 70 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT: THE WAY FORWARD Research & News Bullen Contents SDPI's 20th Sustainable Development Conference ............................................................................................... 01 PLENARY TITLE: Development Beyond 70 and the Way Forward ...................................................................... 03 Session A-1: Improving Connectivity and Regional Integration in Central and South Asia .................................... 05 Session A2: Women's Access to Justice: Ending Violence Against Women (VAW) ................................................. 07 Session A-3: Challenges and Potential of SME Sector Financing in Pakistan: Way Forward through CPEC .......... 10 Session A-4: Political Economy of South Asia: Stories From Pakistan, India & Bangladesh .................................. 13 Session A-5: Harnessing private sector role in sustainable development .................................................................. 15 Session A-6: Pakistan @100: Envisioning Reforms to Accelerate and Sustain Inclusive Growth ........................... 17 Session A-7: Challenges of Moving from Diversity to Pluralism ............................................................................. 19 Session A-8: Structural Inequalities in South Asia: Issues, Challenges and Policy Solutions .................................. 22 Session A-9: Sustainable Development Goals: Keeping the Promise Alive .............................................................. 25 Session-A10: Pathways to Realize Health-related SDGs .......................................................................................... 27 Session A-11: Regional and Global Realignment in Pakistan's Foreign Policy ........................................................ 29 Session AA-1: Innovative Climate Finance Mechanisms for Financial Institutions ................................................. 31 Session B-1: Designing Better Federal and Provincial Tax Reforms ........................................................................ 36 Session B-2 Peace and Security in South Asia: The Way Forward ........................................................................... 38 Session B-3: Feminist Agenda from Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) ............................................................... 40 Session B-4: Pakistan's Energy Future: Governance and Transformation ................................................................ 42 Session B-5: Independent Think Tanks: Challenges in Shrinking Spaces ................................................................. 44 Session B-6: Integrated Context Analysis (ICA) on Food Insecurity and Natural Hazards ...................................... 47 Session B7: Art as Resistance against Political Tyranny in South Asia ................................................................... 49 Session B-8: Information and Telecommunications Journey in Pakistan: Future Directions .................................... 51 Session B-9: Migration, Water Management and Climate Change in Glacial River ................................................ 54 Session B-10: Leaving No one Behind: South Asia's Biggest Development Opportunity ........................................ 57 Session B-11: Achieving a Food Secure and Nutritious Pakistan: Identifying Practical Pathways Forward ............ 59 Session B-12: Promoting Gender Equality: Icons of Feminism in South Asia ........................................................ 61 Session B-13: Role of Women and Youth in Achieving SDGs .................................................................................. 64 Session B-14: Towards a Resilient Future: Adapting to Climate Change in Pakistan ............................................... 66 Session B-15: Public-Private Dialogue on Economic Agenda for Elections 2018 Roundtable Meeting .................. 69 Session B-16: Journalism Awards Plenary ................................................................................................................. 75 Session C-1: The Role of Social Protection in Eradicating Poverty: Policy and Practices ...................................... 77 Session C-2: Transforming Higher Education in South Asia: A Journey of 70 Years ............................................... 80 Session C-3: Compliance of International Human and Labour Rights Conventions ................................................ 82 Session C-4: Climate Change-Driven Migration and Regional/ Global Security ..................................................... 85 Session C-5: Improving Data Foresight for Economic Policy Decisions ................................................................. 88 Session C-6: REDD+ for Sustainable Management of Forests and Societies ........................................................... 91 Session C-7: Water Stewardship and Collective Action ............................................................................................ 94 Session C-8: Understanding El-Niño and its Impacts on South Asia ........................................................................ 96 Session CC-1: Roundtable on Citizen Centric Health Initiative ............................................................................... 98 Session CC-2: Charter of Economy: Moving towards a Consensus on Socio-Economic Agend ............................. 101 Closing Plenary: H.U. Beg Memorial Lectures ....................................................................................................... 103 Editors: Uzma T. Haroon, Saleem Khilji, Sara Anil Compilation: Tayyaba Hanif Photography: Sohail Shahzad, Imran Ali Research & News Bullen SDPI's 20th Sustainable Development Conference Seventy Years of Development: The Way Forward Executive Summary Bandana Rana, Mr Udai Singh Mehta, Dr Paras Kharel, Ms Jia Jinghang, Mr Sachin Chaturvedi, Dr Rolf Paasch, The Twentieth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) respectively; and veteran human rights activists like Mr I.A. titled 'Seventy Years of Development: The Way Forward' Rahman, Mr Afrasiab Khattak, Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Mr held from 5-7 December 2017 will be remembered within Karamat Ali, and Mr Shoaib Sultan Khan. Speakers also and by the development sector of Pakistan and the region for included artists like Mr Jamal Shah and Ms Sheema Kermani some time as one of the largest congregation of biggest, best to name a few. This year's overarching theme was explored and brightest minds coming together in 40 panels, under the following three streams: roundtables and podium discussions, many of which were concurrent including four plenary sessions. Stream 1: Pakistan turned 70 in 2017. There is a lot to learn from 70 years of developmental experiences on what The conference that held during the 25th year of SDPI worked, what did not work and what may work for countries examined 70 years of development in Pakistan and the like Pakistan to attain sustainable development goals in region with participation from around the world. A total of future. The conference congregated key stakeholders, 269 panellists representing Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, national and international, to reflect on peace and Finland (Via Skype), France, Germany, India, Italy, Nepal, development promises made and what has been achieved so Pakistan, Thailand (via Skype), The Philippines, Sri Lanka, far and to take a futuristic approach and suggest a 'way Switzerland, UK, and US participated in the conference. An forward' for development, highlighting collective efforts and audience of over 3,000 attended the three-day flagship event. commitment that feeds to the peace conscience and renews Distinguished speakers included Pakistani politicians and the zeal for persistent effort. The inaugural Plenary, policymakers, e.g. Mr Sartaj Aziz, Dr Miftah Ismail, Syed therefore, focused on Pakistan's centenary and what needs to Khurshid Shah, Ms Marvi Memon, Rana Muhammad Afzal, be done so that 'no one is left behind' in Pakistan by 2047. Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Dr Nafisa Shah. Among them are federal ministers, including Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Prof. Stream 2: Given that SDPI turned 25, the conference touched Ahsan Iqbal, Ms Maryam Aurangzeb, Mr Awais Ahmad upon the role of think tanks (TTs) towards sustainable Khan Leghari; Also there were Senators, including Mr development. The speakers from like-minded organizations Mushahid Hussain, Mr Shibli Faraz, Mr Osman Saifullah, around the world not only shared the role of TTs in bridging Mr Noman Wazir amongst others. the gaps between research and policy but also their role in The Opening Plenary provided a launching pad for the getting those policies implemented. Along with sharing following five publications: success stories of sustaining independent policy research organizations in challenging times, speakers also shared the Ÿ SDPI's Journal of Development Policy, Research and stories of impact created by TTs in sustainable development. Practice The conference was an opportunity to discuss the role of Ÿ SDC Anthology: “Sustainable Development: Envisaging thinking community, and what they have contributed, and the Future Together” based on past experiences share the future agenda. Plenary 2 Ÿ SDPI's Annual Report 2017 focused on the need for regional and global realignment in Ÿ Pakistan's Agenda for Economic Reforms Pakistan's foreign policy and regional connectivity. Ÿ Policy Briefs on Sustainable Development Stream 3: This included the general sessions,