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Gilgit-Baltistan has a thinly dispersed population of 1.5 million over a mountainous terrain of 72,496 km2 which makes the service delivery a challenging task for the government. Out of the 1.5 million people, 82.5% rural residents rely on agriculture activities to make their livelihood. The region is segmented into ten districts. Diamer district with a 23 percent share in the total population of GB, poses an enormous challenge for SDGs implementation in GB.
Localization of SDGs in GB:
GoGB has adopted the 2030 agenda and is firmly dedicated to aligning its policies with Agenda 2030. SDGs are being incorporated in the development frameworks, policy making, and into sectoral strategies. A Parliamentary Task Force (PTF) has been constituted of parliamentarians to identify the legal issues in implementation of SDG and legislate accordingly, and to sensitize policy makers in prioritizing the SDGs. GoGB, with its limited fiscal capacity, has allocated 2.54 billion PKR in ADP 2018/19 for SDGs implementation in GB. A steering committee on SDGs has been notified which will provide strategic guidance for the implementation of SDGs in GB. Focal persons have been notified in the line departments to facilitate coordination. Thematic committees on various subjects are also in process of formation.
Awareness raising and sensitization sessions on SDGs have been organized by the P&D Department as well as other organizations such as Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and AKRSP. PIPS organized a three-day orientation session on SDGs for members of GB Assembly. AKRSP also organized awareness sessions in collaboration with community organizations at the district and village level to generate a demand for SDGs implementation from the grassroot level. Further sessions are also being planned with parliamentarians and line departments for the next year.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting on SDGs is a challenging task in GB because of the lack of access to national level household data sets. Currently, the major available source of data is Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017 which covers approximately 20 SDG Indicators. Most of the national survey reports developed by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) including PSLM and Labor Force Survey do not publish their findings for GB. Absence of a proper interdepartmental data sharing mechanism and protocol further exacerbate the challenges. GB does not have its own provincial statistical department and the government is dependent on the federal bureau of statistics.