ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday wrote a letter to the head of Bangladesh’s interim administration, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, offering assistance amid monsoon floods that have affected millions of people.
With a population of 170 million, Bangladesh is crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers and is known to be prone to flooding. However, climate change has altered environmental patterns in the region, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.
Sharif expressed deep sorrow and grief in his letter to the Bangladeshi leader, saying the entire Pakistani nation stood in solidarity with the Bangladeshi government and its people.
“The people of Bangladesh are known for their resilience in the face of calamities,” the Pakistani PM said in his letter. “I am confident that they will overcome this adversity under your able leadership.”
“Pakistan remains ready to offer any assistance that may be required,” he continued.
The prime minister said the Bangladeshi people who had lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones were in the thoughts and prayers of the Pakistani nation.
The floods come less than three weeks after the ouster of ex-premier Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to flee by helicopter to India, her government’s biggest political patron, during a student-led uprising.
Hasina’s 15-year rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents.
She was replaced by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is heading an interim government facing the monumental task of charting democratic reforms ahead of expected new elections.
Pakistan itself has remained vulnerable to extreme weather events in recent years, losing about 1,700 lives during the monsoon two years ago, with infrastructure damage estimated at over $35 billion.
This year, heavy rainfall starting in July has already caused flash floods in various regions, with more downpours predicted in the coming weeks.
With input from AFP
Pakistan PM offers assistance to Bangladesh as monsoon floods displace millions
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Pakistan PM offers assistance to Bangladesh as monsoon floods displace millions
- Shehbaz Sharif expresses solidarity in a letter to the head of Bangladesh’s interim setup, Dr. Muhammad Yunus
- He says Bangladeshis are known for their resilience, expressing confidence they will overcome this adversity
Pakistan president eyes strengthening trade, investment, tourism cooperation during Iraq visit
- President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on Saturday for four-day visit aimed to bolster bilateral ties
- Zardari, Iraqi leaders to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in energy, manpower, technology and education
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari is in Iraq for a four-day visit where he will review bilateral ties and hold meetings with the country’s leadership to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, religious tourism and energy as well as other sectors, state-run media said this week.
Zardari arrived in Baghdad on a four-day trip on Saturday where he was received by the country’s Culture Minister Dr. Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani.
Pakistan and Iraq established diplomatic relations in 1947 and have traditionally maintained cordial ties, though commercial links remain modest, with officials and business groups identifying scope for cooperation in construction services, pharmaceuticals, manpower and agricultural exports.
“During the visit, President Asif Ali Zardari will hold high-level meetings with the Iraqi leadership, during which all aspects of bilateral relations will be reviewed,” state broadcaster Pakistan Television reported on Saturday.
“The meetings will consider ways to further strengthen cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, energy, reconstruction, manpower, technology, education, and people-to-people contacts.”
It said both sides are also expected to discuss regional and international issues, including cooperation at multilateral forums.
“The president’s visit is expected to further strengthen friendly relations between Pakistan and Iraq, explore new avenues of partnership, and promote people-to-people ties, particularly religious tourism and economic cooperation,” PTV said.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Ameer Al-Shammari, on the sidelines of meetings in Brussels, where both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on security and facilitate travel for Pakistani Shia pilgrims to Najaf and Karbala.
The two officials discussed measures to ensure the smoother movement of these pilgrims and their compliance with visa regulations.
