ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his unprecedented support to flood victims in Pakistan. UNSG Antonio Guterres has left Islamabad after concluding his two-day solidarity visit to Pakistan. During two-day stay, he visited flood-affected areas and stressed the need for developed nations to assist Pakistan, saying that international body’s help is “a drop in ocean” compared to what is needed to rebuild.

Taking to Twitter, PM Shehbaz said that during his visit to flood-affected areas and camps under scorching heat, UN Secretary General was overwhelmed by scale of devastation that has engulfed Pakistan. He maintained that UN chief’s voice has become voice of flood victims. 

Stressing need for international support to deal with natural catastrophe and control over carbon emissions, he said that world should pay heed to what he said about climate change. UN chief’s visit has been critical in raising awareness about human tragedy, he said.

“Deeply touched by his empathy and leadership. Pakistan needs global support to overcome this challenge,” he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a telephonic conversation with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his gratitude to people of Türkiye for extending humanitarian relief assistance to Pakistan in form of immediate dispatch of tents, emergency food items and medicines via 12 Turkish military aircraft, 04 ‘Goodness Trains’ and 02 Turkish Red Crescent Trucks.

 Prime Minister exclaimed that this is in truest tradition of Pakistan-Türkiye exemplary relationship.

Sensitising President Erdogan of havoc caused by riverine floods, Prime Minister stated that as per initial estimates, floods are likely to reduce Pakistan’s GDP by over 2 percentage points. He underlined that ongoing floods have devastated millions of acres of standing crops, houses and critical infrastructure in country.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 12 2022

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