Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members to develop Pakistan-specific climate change programs, as the country faced the devastating effects of the global natural phenomenon.
“This climatic injustice has been fallen us despite the fact that our carbon emission is less than one percent,” the prime minister said in his address at the heads of state meeting of the eight-member SCO in the historic city of Samarkand.
The prime minister’s call to the SCO members came in the aftermath of the recent flash floods in Pakistan, which wreaked havoc on the country’s livelihood and infrastructure.
Shehbaz stated that Pakistan was bracing for the flood disaster, which killed 1,400 people, including 400 children, and damaged or destroyed millions of homes.
“I earnestly appeal to all of you that let the SCO stand up and take steps against this devastation through sustainable programs,” he said.
He stated that the country had never faced such a level of climate-induced disaster in its history, which had devastating effects on human lives, infrastructure, livestock, and crops.
He emphasized the critical need for international assistance to assist Pakistan in overcoming the problems caused by floods, such as relief, rehabilitation, and disease control.
“In view of the massive disaster, I would be very honest to urge this forum to extend assistance to Pakistan and chalk out plans regarding climate change for our future generations,” he said.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the SCO’s goals. He expressed Pakistan’s willingness to work with the SCO states to implement robust connectivity plans among neighbouring regional countries.
“It will be a win-win outcome for all the member states. This is the time to act, and act now,” he stressed. Shehbaz stated that Pakistan was united in its commitment to combating extremism, separatism, and terrorism.
Thousands of Pakistani civilians and armed forces have died in the fight against terrorism, he said, for the security of their country. Pakistan, he said, valued peace, progress, and shared development of the country as important for the region.
“We have to work together to support all good initiatives in Afghanistan for the good of the people of Afghanistan in areas, particularly education, health and human rights,” he said. Sharif said it would be a big mistake if he the world ignored Afghanistan.
Shehbaz stated that peace in Pakistan is linked to peace in the neighbouring country of Afghanistan. He urged the SCO community to work toward unfreezing Afghanistan’s assets and ensuring respect for human rights, particularly for women and minorities.
The prime minister congratulated the Iranian president on his country’s full membership in the SCO platform.
The prime minister stated that Pakistan was united in its commitment to combating extremism, separatism, and terrorism.
Thousands of Pakistani civilians and armed forces have died in the fight against terrorism, he said, for the security of their country.
Shehbaz met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who praised the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for its transformative impact on Pakistan’s socioeconomic development.
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