New York: In UNGA address, PM Shehbaz highlights Pakistan's plight and urges global leaders to 'act now' on climate change.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his address to 77th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York highlighted Pakistan's plight due to flooding crisis caused by global climate change and urged global leaders to come together and "act now" before it's too late. At outset of his speech, he said purpose of his speech was to explain scale and magnitude of climate catastrophe that has put one third of Pakistan in a situation that "no one had seen in living memory".

"For 40 days and 40 nights, biblical flood poured on us. Even today, huge swathes of country are still underwater. 33 million people including women, and children are at high risk of health hazards. More than 1,500 of my people have gone from world including 400 children. Far more are in peril." He noted that Pakistan had never seen such a devastating example of global warming. "Life in Pakistan has changed forever." "It is time to ask what must be done.” He said impact on health and wealth of Pakistan was beyond calculation at this point. "So my real worry, is about next stage of this challenge.

When cameras leave, and story just shifts away to conflicts like Ukraine, my question is, will we be left alone, to cope with a crisis we did not create?" he asked. He said Pakistan's urgent priority right now was to ensure rapid economic growth and lift millions out of destitution and hunger.  Talking about regional situation, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was seeking peace with all its neighbours, including India.

"Sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, however, remains contingent upon a just and lasting solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute." He said India's illegal and unilateral actions of August 5 2019, to change internationally recognised "disputed" status of Jammu and Kashmir undermined prospects of peace and inflamed regional tensions. Discussing Afghanistan's situation, he said neighbouring country was facing a unique challenge. "Around 30 million Afghans are left without a functional economy and banking system that allows ordinary Afghans to make a living to be able to build a better future."

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz also met with United States President Joe Biden at reception of world leaders participating in 77th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).  According to details, prime minister lauded flood relief efforts by US and continuous Covid-19 vaccine assistance. US president expressed his determination to continue helping Pakistan in difficult humanitarian situation.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 24 2022

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