Shafaqna Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for greater preparedness, resilience and stronger coordination at the national, regional and international levels to address the growing threat of climate-related disasters.
The remarks came during a meeting in Islamabad with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz also commended the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for its humanitarian response to complex emergencies around the world.
He acknowledged OCHA’s continued support for Pakistan, particularly during the devastating floods of 2022, and thanked the organisation for its assistance in strengthening the country’s disaster response efforts.
The prime minister said Pakistan’s national and provincial disaster management institutions had “significantly enhanced their capacity to respond to climate-induced disasters” over the years, but warned that the growing impact of climate change required stronger preparedness and cooperation.
According to the statement, Fletcher thanked the prime minister for receiving him and praised the “longstanding partnership and close cooperation” between Pakistan and OCHA.
He also commended Shehbaz’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability, saying “sustainable peace was essential to addressing the humanitarian and economic consequences of conflicts”.
During the meeting, Fletcher briefed the prime minister on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the challenges OCHA was facing in delivering urgently needed assistance to the affected population, PMO added.
He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support for OCHA’s humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to “working closely with the United Nations and OCHA to strengthen global humanitarian cooperation, enhance disaster preparedness, and support relief efforts for vulnerable communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters”.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, discussing preparations for monsoon rains in the country.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) noted that PM Shehbaz directed the chairman regarding coordination with provincial governments and provincial disaster management authorities, which he said should be further improved amid the rains.
Source: Express Tribune
