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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that a total of $9.7 billion of financial assistance was announced during the Climate-Resilient Pakistan moot held in Geneva.
Also read: Aid promised to Pakistan in Geneva moot will not alleviate energy shortages and cash crunch: FT
Addressing a news conference along with federal ministers here on Wednesday, he said despite worst propaganda by opponents, the Geneva moot remained ‘very successful’.
Also read: Rana Sanaullah terms Geneva pledges as ‘major achievement’
Giving a breakdown of the amount pledged at the conference, the prime minister said Saudi Arabia committed $1 billion followed by China $100m, Qatar $25m, Canada $18.6m, Denmark $3.8m, European Union €87m, France €380m, Germany €84m, Italy €23m and Azerbaijan $2m.
He also hailed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for his prospective plans to increase the deposit amount in the State of Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to $5bn.
Also read: Participation in Geneva moot is affirmation of solidarity with Pakistan: KSA
Shehbaz Sharif said “now the ball is in our court, every single penny has to be spent in transparent way,” adding that had it there been any fear of corruption, the world community wouldn’t have pledged that much money.
He said the government would keep striving to help flood-hit people until they were relocated to their homes.
“It is now our turn to put in our blood and sweat in taking forward the mission for the rehabilitation of our people.”
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On this occasion, Prime Minister praised Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other team members for their efforts in meeting foreign dignitaries and raising the case of Pakistan effectively.
Bilawal Adds:
Speaking on this occasion, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Geneva conference proved to be the success of our foreign policy, dispelling the impression that Pakistan is isolated.
He said we had targeted to raise eight billion dollars from the conference but we surpassed this target, which is a befitting response to the negative propagandists.
He further said “we will also have to manage fifty percent from our own resources for the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase, appealing the people to come forward for the humanitarian assistance of flood victims who are braving extreme weather conditions under the open skies.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assured the flood-affected population that their recovery and rehabilitation was the prime mission of the government.
