Shehbaz holds separate meetings with UNGA President, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry, WB president and IMF Managing Director n Says world community’s continued support can help Pakistan overcome the natural disaster.
NEW YORK - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with world leaders including heads of International Monetary Fund and World Bank and highlighted the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan and shared the country’s perspective on climate change and health of economy urging the world’s continued support for the rehabilitation of flood-hit areas.
The PM is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly’s annual session and busy in holding sideline meetings with the world leaders.
During his meeting with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Mr. John Kerry, Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the important role being played by the Biden Administration to address climate change.
He appreciated Mr. Kerry’s personal leadership in raising awareness and seeking solutions to the climate change crisis.
He conveyed gratitude for immediate US assistance in the wake of the devastating floods in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for continued support from the international community, not only in the immediate recovery and relief efforts, but also during the subsequent reconstruction and rehabilitation phase The prime minister stressed that Pakistan contributed less than 1 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions; yet it was among the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change. With over 1400 casualties; 33 million people displaced as climate refugees, out of which over 600,000 were pregnant women; four million acres of crops were destroyed; entire villages and livelihoods swept away; Pakistan was facing an unprecedented natural disaster.
He underscored the importance of United States’ leadership in enabling developing countries including Pakistan to deliver on their climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement by providing sufficient tools in the shape of Climate Finance, Technology Transfer and Capacity Building Assistance. Special Envoy Kerry expressed solidarity with the people and Government of Pakistan and reaffirmed the US Administration’s continued support in facing the challenges due to the floods. He said that the US was ready to engage with Pakistan to collaborate in rebuilding resilient infrastructure as well as other forms of support that would avert such a crisis in future.
Both the sides agreed to continue to closely focus on climate change and energy dialogue.
Meanwhile, US secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the UN General Assembly.
The meeting took place in the Hall of the UN General Assembly. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto was also present on the occasion. The PM thanked the US secretary of State for generous US financial support for the flood victims.
In the brief meeting, bilateral ties were discussed and the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory in the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, President World Bank Group, Mr. David Malpass and Ms. Karistalina Georgieva, Managing Director of IMF, seaparetely called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz and discussed economic reforms agenda of the government.
During his meeting with the WB head, they discussed the World Bank’s ongoing engagement with Pakistan to strengthen its infrastructure, agriculture, rural and urban development, social service, as well as economic growth.
The prime minister appreciated the World Bank’s partnership with Pakistan and informed him about the government’s steps to introduce economic policies focused on strengthening the economy, price stability and maintaining the sustainability of the external and fiscal sectors. He also highlighted the government’s pressing requirements for additional investment and financial resources from global community to mitigate the devastating impact of climate change on the people and economy of Pakistan.
The prime minister apprised him of the devastating impacts of the unprecedented catastrophic floods in Pakistan.
He thanked the World Bank Group for re-purposing the funds toward flood relief activities and providing US$ 372 million. He underlined that Pakistan made little contribution to climate change, yet it faced the impacts disproportionately.
The World Bank president stressed that Pakistan must be prioritized for resilient reconstruction through the international community’s collective support.
Malpass expressed sympathies and condolences over the loss and destruction caused by floods.
He also committed to the re-purposing of US$ 850 million immediately to help Pakistan with its flood relief efforts