Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm here this morning basically to listen. This is my second visit to Pakistan in less than a year, and I do come at a turbulent period, but it is interesting for me to be here this morning and to hear the plans that you have for your nation and the people, as someone who has always believed that we should put human beings at the center of everything we do; that development is not a matter of statistics, but it deems from needs and concerns of human beings, men, women and children.

What I have heard this morning has been truly inspiring. In the year 2000, when we organized the Millennium Summit, one of the priorities the 150 Heads of States and governments agreed upon was poverty alleviation. Not only did they agree on millennium development goals, but we are also required to report back --monitor and report every year-- as to what progress that is being made at the country level; and hearing what I have heard today, I know Pakistan will have a lot to report if we carry through the plans that have been discussed here this morning.

But let me also say that, as we move forward, and I think Clare Short touched on this, this is something the government cannot do alone. It has to work in partnership with the private sector, NGOs, women's groups and community organizations. So I would urge everyone to get involved, to work with the government in partnership; we don't have to wait for the government to come to you. You can offer and do your own little bit in your own little corner, and if we all make our contributions collectively, we will move the nation forward.

And finally, let me say that, since 11th of September, we have all tended to focus quite a lot on terrorism. Yes, it is important to have effective action against terrorism but it is also important to pursue the other priorities: the fight against poverty, the need to ensure that that environment is protected and we do not plunder the resources of the world in a manner that is not sustainable, because there is an African proverb which says: "the earth is not ours. It is a treasure we hold in trust for our children and their children". And we need to do whatever we can, not only to fight poverty, but also to protect the environment and to remove the inequality that exists between States and within States. And this morning, I have received the message loud and clear that you are determined to do that. I am also encouraged by the emphasis on governance, which is one of the key areas for all effective development.

Let me conclude by wishing you very successful deliberations over the next three days, and I leave here with a sense that you are determined to move ahead with poverty eradication and that, when we return to the General Assembly to report what countries are doing, we will have an interesting story to tell from Pakistan. Thank you very much. *****