GENEVA: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan needs considerable support over next several years from international partners to ensure rehabilitation and reconstruction in flood-hit areas.

Speaking at inaugural session of International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, he said Pakistan will transform challenge recovery, reconstruction into an opportunity to build more resilient Pakistan and economy, which is dynamic and suitable. We are determined to do it in an open, transparent and collaborative may.

Foreign Minister said conference demonstrates international solidarity with Pakistan as it begins its journey towards building back better. We see this conference as commencement of long-term partnership with our friends and development partners. He said we look forward to generous and sustained commitments from international community.

Highlighting devastation caused by recent floods in Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto said around 33 million people, including 16 million children and 600,000 pregnant women were severely affected by floods. He said many areas of Pakistan are still under water even after passage of six months. He said we are still conducting our relief operations and are looking forward to our reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Addressing plenary of International Conference Bilawal Bhutto called for an integrated, inclusive and smartly financed plan for resilient recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction that is responsive to needs of flood affected population. In his remarks at plenary, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov said global community needs to take decisive action to address issue of climate change. He said our common goal is to support Pakistan’s efforts to restore destroyed infrastructure and agriculture to normalize livelihoods of millions of families. He said his country is ready to continue to provide necessary assistance to fraternal people of Pakistan including in close collaboration with UN agencies.

Minister of Climate Change of UAE Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri commended Pakistan for its extraordinary and inspiring response to unprecedented floods 2022.  Minister for Climate Crisis of Greece, in his remarks said his country is committed to assisting Pakistan bilaterally and through European Union’s instruments. Foreign Minister of Qatar Soltan Bin Saad Al Moraikhi said we must work together to deal with challenge of climate change.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 10 2023

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