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Objectives of Middle East Green Initiative are aligned with those of Pakistan’s forest policy: PM Shehbaz  

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Nov 08, (SABAH): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed Pakistan’s keenness to work closely with the Middle Eastern countries to secure the planet against climate change impacts.

He was addressing Saudi Green Initiative Summit in Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt on Tuesday. The Prime Minister was appreciative of the Saudi Crown Prince for undertaking the landmark ‘Middle East Green Initiative’ saying it a big step in the right direction  for human survival,  regional rejuvenation and seed a much needed hope for a world looking for a greener and more bio diverse future.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is fully committed to the broader objective of the initiative and looks forward to working in close collaboration with the Middle East states for restoration of forests in dry land areas, management of protected areas, carbon stock assessment and establishment of forest monitoring system. He said nature based solutions are also at the heart of his country’s ambitious climate action agenda.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the objectives of Middle East Green Initiative are aligned with those of Pakistan’s forest policy and Green Pakistan Program which is focused on protecting, enhancing and managing our forests, wildlife and ecosystem by 2030.  He said Pakistan has already extended full cooperation through exchange of knowledge and provision of experts for the Saudi Green initiative.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended a high-level roundtable at COP-27 on the “Scaling up Action and Support on Losses and Damages – the Global Shield Against Climate Risks”.

The event was jointly hosted by German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo on the significant topic of ‘Loss and

Damage’ associated with Climate Change. The meeting was attended by a number of Heads of State and Government.

The Prime Minister underscored that the vulnerable developing countries such as Pakistan were already witnessing unprecedented devastating impacts of climate change, even though they have contributed very little to it. He also briefed the participants on the situation in the flood-hit areas of Pakistan and the actions being taken by the Government for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood impacted areas.

The Prime Minister also underlined that the issue of ‘Loss and Damage’ is one of the key priorities for Pakistan and welcomed its inclusion as an agenda item of COP-27. He highlighted that it was for the first time that the COP had agreed to formally discuss funding arrangements for Loss and Damage, achieved through persistent push by the developing countries under Pakistan’s chairmanship of Group of 77 and China.

While appreciating the significance of the “Global Shield Against Climate Risks” initiative, the Prime Minister called for renewed international solidarity and cooperation to address the impacts of climate change. He underscored that the desired financing facility should serve as the primary vehicle to coordinate and mobilize financial resources to address loss and damage in the developing nations.

The Prime Minister also stressed that COP-27 provided a very timely opportunity to take clear and decisive decisions in this regard.