Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the United Nations Secretary General to urgently call a donors conference to generate funds for rehabilitation of flood-ravaged people of Pakistan.
The prime minister was chairing a meeting via video link of his cabinet ministers and officials for an update on the flood situation in Pakistan.
Shehbaz Sharif told the participants the initial estimate of losses to Pakistan’s economy as a result of the three-month flooding disaster was $30 billion, adding that he had requested UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urgently hold a donors’ conference.
The prime minister told the meeting that he, during the recent session of the United Nations General Assembly, had held meetings with important leaders of the world including Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations.
He said that during his meetings with the world leaders, he had informed them about the disaster caused by floods in Pakistan and also the relief operations and rehabilitative efforts being carried out by the government.
He also informed the meeting about the telephonic conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
He told the meeting that the world leaders had been informed about the disastrous effects of climate change on Pakistan and also the Pakistan’s approach to climate change. The prime minister further said that the world leaders had expressed sympathy and condolence over the damage caused by floods in Pakistan and assured with full sincerity of help.
He further said that the secretary general of the United Nations as sured that a donors’ conference would also be organised for the rehabilitation of the flood victims in Pakistan.
He also said that during the meeting with Bill Gates, co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the matter of taking help from the World Food Programme for feeding children in flood-affected areas came under discussion.
“With the aid of the international community and the efforts of the Pakistani institutions, we will come out of this difficulty, God willing!” the prime minister expressed his optimism.
He was also briefed by the officials of the National Flood Response Coordination Centre regarding the rehabilitative work in the flood-affected areas across the country.
