ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday applauded United Nations Secretary General António Guterres for raising international awareness about the devastation caused by recent floods in Pakistan while urging the global community to address the issue of climate change.
Pakistan witnessed record monsoon rains since the beginning of the season in June that led to flash floods and destroyed houses, farmlands and public infrastructure. The climate catastrophe also claimed about 1,400 lives across Pakistan while uprooting millions of others.
The UN secretary general, who arrived in the country on Friday, went to several flood-ravaged areas while calling for increased global financial assistance toward the end of his two-day visit aimed at raising awareness of the disaster.
The Pakistani prime minister described his visit as “critical,” saying he was deeply touched by the empathy and leadership of the top UN official.
“During his visit to the flood-affected areas & camps under scorching heat, UN Secretary General was overwhelmed by the scale of devastation that has engulfed Pakistan,” he said in a Twitter post. “His voice has become the voice of flood victims. The world should pay heed to what he said about climate change.”

Meanwhile, other senior Pakistani officials continued to visit the flood-hit regions in the country. The army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, went to Sindh on Saturday where he urged affluent Pakistanis to step forward and provide financial assistance.
Speaking to the media in Dadu, he noted the area had been deeply affected by the floods.
“Manchar and Hamal lakes, which are about 100 kilometers apart, have merged,” he said, adding the government was still performing rescue and relief activities in the area.
“People will continue to suffer if we do not build proper dams and drainage system,” he continued. “The army engineers have been tasked to carry out an initial study on it. We will also seek international assistance from experts.”