Addressing National Security And Regional Development In Wake Of A Global Pandemic
- Controlling the spread of COVID-19 and its upcoming variants require an inter-country approach through re-strategizing of the common agenda and joint collaborations.
- To build around its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, there is a need for a broader focus on Research and Development (R&D) and joint learning through inter-country coordination.
- To build around the SDGs’ targets and international commitments, there is a need to ensure that the pledged support from countries is translated into actual actions and assistance of the targeted countries.
- For regional security and safeguard, the major focus and narrative needs of supporting countries need to shift towards “preventing the creation of refugees” than thinking on “how they can be assisted”.
- To ensure economic and political stability in the region, connectivity corridor needs to be further explored.
- To support economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, international banking channels and financing institutions must extend their aid programs.
- Regional and global assistance of Afghanistan needs to go beyond humanitarian assistance as there is a high risk of illegal trade developments in the region.
- To address the public level governance issues, the Afghan Government needs to put inclusive efforts to provide basic human rights followed by the rule of international law.
- The “Joint Working group on Green CPEC” should be formulated, supported by the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), to accelerate Pakistan’s green development ambitions, including green energy cooperation, green finance cooperation, green transport hub, green buildings and infrastructure.
- Under the 2nd China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan must mobilize the opportunity of industrial growth by establishing Special Economic Zones and initiating skill and technology transfer programs.
