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NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed a high-level UN event on ‘Transformative Action for Nature & People’ and shared Pakistan’s journey of restoring ecosystem through nature-based solutions.
The foreign minister in his speech said that due to climate changes taking place since 2000, Pakistan had faced a loss of $3.8 billon and lost 9989 lives. Due to melting of glaciers, lakes had been appearing in the northern areas of Pakistan, he added.
Qureshi said that these glaciers were not only a huge natural source of sweet water but also a major water supply resource in the country. The glacial melting had also affected the agriculture sector, supply of drinking water, hydropower generation, and natural climatic system in Pakistan, he opined.
The foreign minister stressed upon implementation of pledge made by the developed countries to allocate 100 billion dollars annually for the Climatic Finance so that effects of the climatic change could be netted. He urged the international community to demonstrate commitment to nature which was at the very heart of the fight against climate change.
The foreign minister further said that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for greater climate action, Pakistan co-hosted an event focussing on ‘How changing water availability from ice & snow will impact our societies’. The foreign minister also outlined Pakistan’s progressive environmental policies to tackle climate change.
Humanitarian assistance
In another meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The foreign minister appreciated the efforts of ICRC in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in challenging and complex situations and for upholding the principles of international humanitarian law.
The foreign minister stressed the importance of the international community’s earnest engagement with Afghanistan and the provision of necessary humanitarian and development assistance to the Afghan people.
Qureshi outlined the contributions made by Pakistan towards the mitigation of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, especially through its support for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor and provision of in-kind assistance comprising food and medicines.
The foreign minister underscored the importance of economic stability for consolidating peace in Afghanistan and promoting sustainable development. He added that the world community must also provide support to the large Afghan refugee-hosting countries in line with the principle of international responsibility and burden-sharing.
The president ICRC briefed the foreign minister on his recent visit to Afghanistan and shared his assessment of the situation on the ground and the urgent humanitarian needs of the Afghan people.
