Minister for Commerce and Investment, Syed Naveed Qamar says Pakistan is keen to expand its development cooperation with European Union and tap the Union’s Global Gateway Strategy to rehabilitate and reconstruct its flood-affected areas.                  

He was addressing a meeting of European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health.

The Commerce Minister underscored that Pakistan is at ground zero of the climate crisis, despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gases.

He elaborated that the country has been suffering from extreme weather events such as droughts, forest fires, severe heat waves as well as catastrophic floods.

The Minister highlighted that Pakistan has taken a number of initiatives to tackle the adverse effects of climate change, however the size and scale of the current disaster is beyond its national capacity and is adversely affecting the country's progress on sustainable development goals.

The Minister indicated that the country is determined to Build Back Better in a climate-resilient manner with the support and cooperation of friends and partners.

He said sustained preferential market access will play a critical role in helping Pakistan achieve its economic rehabilitation, growth and development objectives, especially in the aftermath of the disaster.

He stressed that the ongoing loss and damage discussion must be brought forward in all climate-related deliberations at multilateral forums including the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 27.