Some people want to divert attention from floods towards themselves: Bilawal
KARACHI, Oct 06 (SABAH): Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has taken a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for trying to “divert” attention from floods while millions still await assistance, saying that there is no time for politics now.
Bilawal Bhutto said this while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Thursday. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Senator Nisar Ahmed Khuro and other PPP leaders were also present on the occasion.
The foreign minister, while sharing Sindh’s updated statistics of the people affected and lands still inundated by the catastrophic floods, said that the recent flooding has caused a bigger impact on the economy than the COVID-19 pandemic did. “Some people want to divert attention from floods towards themselves […] conspiring in a bid to form their government amid the crisis,” Bilawal said without naming anyone.
Urging a joint response to help the affectees, Bilawal Bhutto said we should not be thinking about politics and votes. “We have to unite, prioritise humanity and set the politics aside,” he added.
The PPP chairman said that the government is looking into the economic consequences of the floods as well as the food insecurity issue, while a second catastrophe, the health crisis also looms.
He said that they are currently working on the damage needs assessment which will give an estimate of the losses incurred by the floods. He said that $30 billion is an initial estimate.
Bilawal urged people to help as much as they can as the government still needs help for the rehabilitation of flood victims. “We have faced every hardship and emerged more powerful than ever. We will do the same this time as well by the will of Allah,” he said.
Moving on to the ongoing flood relief efforts, the PPP chairman said that the government will continue to work hard for the provision of aid in terms of tents, trampolines, mosquito nets and rations. He said that the rations provision is going well as the government bodies, NGOs, international organisations and civil societies are working together for the cause. He went on to say that the second phase is reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The PPP chairman highlighted the efforts made by the provincial government during the natural calamity. “While the damage needs assessment takes place, the government is making efforts to obtain financing for rehabilitation and highlighting the matter internationally.”
Criticising the nations for greenhouse gas emissions, Bilawal Bhutto lamented that these rich countries have caused damage to the entire world in form of climate change while making themselves richer.
He said that the people of Pakistan are bearing the brunt of this damage and are paying in the form of their lives and livelihoods for the industrialization of other countries. “We don’t seek alms but justice from the world,” he reiterated.
Moving on to the international aid Pakistan received on account of flood relief, Bilawal thanked United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for visiting Pakistan with just a couple of weeks left in the UN General Assembly session.
He said that the UN chief visited all the flood-hit areas and highlighted Pakistan’s misery at the biggest international forum during the UNGA sessions. He further stated that many countries also pledged to continue assistance in future.
While discussing the agricultural sector, Bilawal Bhutto said that the government will make every possible effort to help farmers in planting the next crop. “We will be in a position to plant the crops by the end of November,” Bilawal said.
Furthermore, he said that the government will have to improve the infrastructure to cope with climate change effects so that any such situation in the future could be dealt with in a better way.
He, however, said that the government doesn’t have enough money to build everyone’s houses at its own expense.
“Sindh government has consulted with World Bank for assistance for reconstruction through interest-free loans,” he added.
Bilawal said that the relations between Pakistan and China are “higher than Himalayas.” He said that Pakistan has told United States that it wants to maintain ties with them. “We want to face climate change together,” he added.
During his press conference, the minister stressed that climate change was a “reality”. “We have to change our development model […] we need to build homes at par with climate requirements.” Bilawal said it was a “joke” if any political party called for holding elections during floods. “I can ask my workers to contest [local government] elections but we have to help flood victims because they are the first priority,” he added.
Regarding by-elections, the PPP co-chairperson said nobody should expect the Sindh chief minister to transfer officers deputed in flood-hit areas to polling stations.
He, however, insisted that the PPP had not demanded a delay in the polls. “It will now be our demand that polls should be held on time instead of holding them early.”
Bilawal Bhutto said the decision would help the provincial government and federal administration in undertaking flood relief activities effectively.
In response to a question, Bilawal Bhutto dispelled the impression that some countries were unwilling to help Pakistan during the floods, saying: “We did not feel at any point that no one wants to help us. We are thankful that everyone is offering us assistance.”
He accused the PTI chief of telling “constant lies with an intent that at least people will start believing a fraction of it”. He urged citizens to step up, cast politics aside and assist flood victims.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felt the pain of flood victims and he is continuously engaged in helping the flood victims. He said that it is not a time for politics but to give priority to humanity. He appealed to philanthropists to come forward to help the flood victims. The Foreign Minister expressed his commitment that the flood victims will not be left alone in this difficult time. He said that the Sindh government has decided to provide all possible facilities to the farmers for sowing the next crop.