New york: Chairman Prime Minister's Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has highlighted Pakistan's commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities. He was addressing a high-level meeting on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda at the UN General Assembly. According to Radio Pakistan, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan described the midterm review as an important opportunity for the international community to assess progress and renew its commitment to implementing the New Urban Agenda. This comes at a time when rapid urbanization is placing increasing pressure on housing, transport, public safety, and the environment. Rana Mashhood emphasized that Pakistan is developing a National Urban Strategy in collaboration with UN-Habitat to integrate climate resilience into urban planning. He cited the devastating urban and riverine floods of 2025 that claimed over one thousand lives as a key reason for this initiative. He further mentioned that Pakistan's post-flood reconstruction programme has been instrumental in rebuilding more than four hundred thousand homes for displaced families. The government is also expanding affordable, low-emission public transport, enhancing urban safety by extending Safe City authorities, and strengthening social protection through the Benazir Income Support Programme. Highlighting the role of young people in shaping the country's urban future, Rana Mashhood noted that nearly 67 percent of Pakistan's population is under the age of 30. He spoke about the Pur Azm Pakistan initiative, launched under the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, which connects young people with skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities through partnerships with national and international stakeholders. Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to international cooperation, Rana Mashhood expressed the country's readiness to work with all UN Member States to share its experiences and contribute to practical, people-centred solutions for sustainable urban development. He expressed h ope that the midterm review would deliver meaningful outcomes for present and future generations.
