PM Shehbaz says global conversation on Pakistan’s flood devastation should focus on the plight of children

ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the global conversation on Pakistan’s flood devastation should focus on the plight of children.

In a statement issued on twitter on Monday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that disaster has adversely affected millions of children with over 500 dead. Let these children not be an arithmetic but a clarion call for swift action to rebuild their lives and future, he said.

Meanwhile in another tweet PM Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his sincere sympathy to the people and government of Japan who are facing the ravages of Hurricane Nanmodal. Only goes to show that climate change does not follow a linear pattern and can bring disaster to any country, he said. PM Shehbaz Shahbaz said that the world needs to wake up to horrors of this monster.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the high-level debate of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from 19-23 September 2022. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, other members of the Cabinet and senior officials.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the UN General Assembly on 23 September. In focus will be the challenge faced by Pakistan in wake of the recent climate-induced catastrophic floods in the country. The Prime Minister will outline concrete proposals for collectively tackling the existential threat posed by climate change. He will also share Pakistan’s position and perspective on regional and global issues of concern including Jammu and Kashmir, which is one of the long-standing unresolved disputes on the UN agenda.

FO spokesperson said that on the sidelines of the UNGA Session, the Prime Minister will participate in the Global Food Security Summit jointly organised by the African Union, European Union and the United States, and a Closed-door Leaders Gathering on COP-27 bringing together select world leaders to discuss climate change. These will be important platforms to deliberate on effective measures required at the global level for addressing the two most pressing challenges confronting the international community today.

Asim Iftikahr Ahmad said that the Prime Minister will hold a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries, President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General as well as heads of International Organisations, IFIs and philanthropic organisations. Leaders will also have the opportunity to interact during the receptions hosted by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the United States. The Prime Minister will also hold interactions with the international media.

FO spokesperson said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also have an extensive program attending various high-level meetings and events, bilateral meetings with a number of his counterparts, media and think-tank interactions, besides chairing G-77 and China Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers, OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers, and participation in the meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that center of multilateralism, the United Nations is the most vital international body, promoting international peace and security, development and human rights, and providing the foundations of a stable and sustainable world order. As the most representative and inclusive multilateral forum of nation states, the UN General Assembly offers the best platform to the international community for advancing shared objectives and common solutions to the common challenges faced by humanity.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s participation in the UNGA Session is a manifestation of Pakistan’s abiding commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role in international affairs for promoting peace and prosperity worldwide. Both in its national capacity and as the current Chair of the largest international grouping of developing countries – the Group of 77 and China – as well as the current Chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Pakistan will serve as the collective voice of the Global South to promote international peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.