ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday called for the fulfillment of an overdue $100 billion climate finance pledge by wealthy countries and the “urgent launch” of the Loss and Damage Fund meant for countries most vulnerable to climate catastrophes, the foreign office spokesperson said in a statement.
Flood-battered Pakistan pushed for the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund during a global climate conference at the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh in November last year. Pakistan led a group of 134 African, Asian and Latin American states and small island nations to present a united stand to push for the initiative, which would ensure wealthy countries pay for the billions in damage that vulnerable countries suffer due to climate change. Details on how the fund will operate and how it will source money will be worked out by a committee in the coming year.
Pakistan took the initiative after unusually heavy rains and melting glaciers triggered flash floods across the country in June 2022. The catastrophe killed over 1,700 people and swept away large swathes of land, destroyed hundreds of houses and damaged critical infrastructure across the country. Pakistan estimated the total damage from the floods to be over $30 billion.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said during the SDG Summit Leaders Dialogue in New York on Thursday, Kakar highlighted the challenges that developing countries face in attaining sustainable development goals.
“He called for climate justice, including the fulfilment of the pledge for over $100 billion annually in climate finance, allocation of half of this amount to climate adaptation and the urgent launch of the Fund for “Loss and Damage,” Baloch said.
The climate pledge was made in 2009 by wealthy countries to transfer $100 billion per year from 2020 to vulnerable states hit by increasingly severe climate change impacts. Failure to meet the pledge by rich nations has fueled mistrust in climate negotiations between countries as they attempt to boost carbon dioxide cutting measures.
Kakar, who is in New York to attend the 78th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) said at the SDG Summit Leaders Dialogue that only 12 percent of the UN’s sustainable development goal targets were met due to economic turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-induced catastrophes, and conflicts raging in different parts of the world.
“This has been further exacerbated by a morally bankrupt international financial architecture,” he was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Kakar is scheduled to address the UNGA on Friday, Sept. 22 which would make him Pakistan’s first caretaker premier to address the session. During his address, the prime minister will elaborate on measures being taken by the government to consolidate Pakistan’s economic recovery and efforts to mobilize domestic and external investments, Pakistani state media reported.
Kakar will also meet world leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA meetings.
Pakistan’s PM calls for $100 billion climate pledge fulfilment, launch of loss and damage fund
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Pakistan’s PM calls for $100 billion climate pledge fulfilment, launch of loss and damage fund
- Pakistan pushed for the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund during COP-27 in Egypt last year
- Flash floods in June 2022 killed over 1,700 people in Pakistan, damaged critical infrastructure worth billions
Pakistan, China call for more ‘visible, verifiable’ actions to dismantle ‘terrorist’ groups in Afghanistan
- Foreign ministers of China, Pakistan co-chair seventh round of strategic dialogue in Beijing to review bilateral cooperation, regional situation
- Pakistan accuses Kabul of facilitating attacks launched by militant outfits from Afghanistan’s soil, a charge Kabul has repeatedly denied
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday urged Afghanistan to take more visible actions to dismantle “terrorist organizations” based in its country, vowing to work with world powers to encourage Kabul to adopt moderate policies and integrate into the international community.
Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain strained as Islamabad alleges militant outfits, mainly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group, uses Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban government of facilitating these attacks against Pakistan, charges Kabul have repeatedly denied.
The joint statement by China and Pakistan was released after a meeting of both countries’ foreign ministers, Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi, in Beijing. Dar and his Chinese counterpart co-chaired the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Jan. 4 where they reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, economic sectors, counterterrorism, defense and regional matters.
“The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security, and prevent terrorist organizations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country and to endanger any other country,” the statement read.
The joint statement said the two countries will work with world powers to encourage Kabul to adopt an inclusive political framework, moderate policies, and pursue good neighborliness.
On bilateral cooperation, China and Pakistan said they had agreed to focus on industry, agriculture and mining, and also promote the building and operation of the Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan.
“The two sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges,” the statement said.
“The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, including extending mutual support at regional and international multilateral financial forums. Pakistan appreciated China for providing support for its fiscal and financial sectors.”
The joint statement said China commended Pakistan’s “comprehensive measures” to combat “terrorism” and protect Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in the country.
“The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with zero tolerance, and agreed to further deepen all-round cooperation on counter-terrorism and security, and make concerted efforts to ensure that the China-Pakistan Belt and Road cooperation advance in a secure and smooth manner,” the statement said.
Pakistan and China expressed their willingness to conduct a transboundary water resources cooperation, stressing the importance of fulfilling international legal obligations. The statement comes as Pakistan frequently accuses India of violating a water-sharing agreement between the two neighbors, claiming New Delhi purposefully diverts the flow of water away from its territory.
Islamabad has warned that any move by New Delhi to stop or divert the flow of Indus rivers to Pakistan will be considered an “act of war.”
Pakistan and China also demanded an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in their joint statement, reaffirming their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the implementation of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
“The two sides also expressed their concern at the situation in the occupied West Bank, and urged the need for urgently addressing it,” the statement said.
