ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday urged South Asian countries to strengthen cooperation against climate-driven disasters after a deadly cyclone battered Sri Lanka, saying the scale and frequency of extreme weather demanded coordinated regional action.
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on the island nation on Nov. 28, triggering severe flooding and landslides that destroyed homes and infrastructure.
Sri Lankan authorities say the storm has killed more than 600 people, left hundreds missing and displaced over two million across dozens of districts, making it one of the country’s worst natural disasters in years.
“We deeply admire the quick actions taken by the Sri Lankan government and the courage shown by the affected communities,” Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, who is on a two-day visit to Colombo, said during a media briefing, according to a statement.
“As I speak to you, Pakistani teams and rescue personnel are on the ground helping to save lives and support relief operations.”
He said Pakistan had dispatched a humanitarian aid package on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives and that its high commission and disaster-response authorities were coordinating closely with Sri Lankan officials to ensure timely delivery of supplies.
Chaudhry used the visit to call for expanded regional collaboration on early-warning systems, disaster management and maritime safety.
Reaffirming Islamabad’s solidarity, the minister added: “Pakistan stands with Sri Lanka as a reliable friend and partner today and always.”
He also invited Sri Lankan media representatives to visit Pakistan and engage with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to strengthen people-to-people ties and deepen bilateral cooperation.
