Friday, 29 March 2024, 05:10:12 am

Analysts express hope that world will fully respond to Pakistan’s flood appeal
September 21, 2022

Zulfiqar Badar (Spokesperson, Foreign Minister): The visit of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister to the United Nations is very important. Foreign Minister is using all the diplomatic tools to attract the foreign investors to come and invest in different sectors in Pakistan. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held an important meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Development Finance Corporation to explore investment potential in Pakistan. Foreign Minister invited the CEO of DFC to visit Pakistan as well. There is no doubt that Pakistan is a land of opportunities for the foreign investment. The Foreign Minister is meeting with different world leaders and inviting them to start joint ventures with the government and private sector of Pakistan to contribute to the economic growth of the country. It will be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders. Pakistan is badly affected due to devastating floods in the country. The people in different parts of the country lost their livestock, crops and even their houses during the floods. It is the need of the hour to motivate the foreign investors to invest in Pakistan for the economic recovery of the country.

Dr. Ejaz Ahmad (Environmentalist): It is obvious that Pakistan is suffering the worst impacts of climate change. The contribution of Pakistan in overall carbon emissions is less than 1%, yet it is among the countries that will be affected more due to climate change. In 2010, Pakistan faced extreme floods that caused damage to the lives and properties of people. Earlier this year, the forest fires were experienced in different parts of the country. We witnessed the hottest months in March, April and May and now the super floods in the country are the results of climate change. The rehabilitation of flood affected people will definitely take enough time. Another challenge that Pakistan faces would be the food security as the crops across the country have been destroyed in Sindh and Southern Punjab. The so-called developed countries are the main contributors to the carbon emissions and it is the need of the time that they compensate the damages of the developing countries. 

Mateen Haider (Senior Journalist, Washington): The UN Secretary General in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly specifically highlighted the destruction caused by the devastating floods in Pakistan and urged the world to provide massive financial support to the country in this critical time. We must be hopeful that the world will come forward in order to contribute to the government's efforts for rehabilitation of flood affected people. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held two important meetings including one with the US Special Envoy for Climate Change.  The Prime Minister discussed the adverse impacts of climate change and the disasters caused by it in Pakistan. Moreover, the Prime Minister also met with Managing Director International Minority Fund IMF Ms. Karistalina Georgieva. The Prime Minister assured that with the support of world organizations, Pakistan will come out of the current difficult situation.