Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and National Economic Policies: A Critical Evaluation

Abstract

The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has led to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by many nations, including Pakistan, and has significant implications for national economic policies. This paper provides a critical evaluation of how national economic policies align (or fail to align) with the SDGs in the context of Pakistan. Drawing on the institutional mechanisms for SDG mainstreaming, the fiscal and structural policy frameworks, and major barriers to effective policy implementation, the study highlights the gaps between ambitions and outcomes. It argues that while Pakistan has formally integrated the SDGs into its national development framework , structural economic challenges, policy incoherence, weak monitoring mechanisms and resource constraints limit progress. The paper offers policy recommendations for strengthening the alignment between economic policy and sustainable development objectives. The findings contribute to the understanding of how national economic policy frameworks can be better designed to deliver on the SDG agenda.