PM Shehbaz pledges transparency in flood aid spending
Pakistan
Will use $9.7bn aid in transparent way, assures PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lauded the team’s work at the Geneva Conference and assured that the international financial aid committed by Geneva moot participants would be used in a transparent manner for the rehabilitation of the flood victims.
Addressing a press conference in the capital city, PM Shehbaz, flanked by federal ministers, said the Geneva Conference was a success and it had been so due to the prayers and good intentions of the nation. He assured that the government would make utmost efforts for the rehabilitation of the flood victims. He said the biggest aid announcement worth $4.2 billion came from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) followed by $2bn from the World Bank, $1bn from the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank (AIDB), $500 million from the Asian Development Bank, $77m from Japan, €23m from Italy, and $25m in aid were announced by Qatar.
The premier said Saudi Arabia also pledged $1bn and the government of Pakistan was thankful to the kingdom for their time-tested support in the hour of need. He said the United States had also announced $100m for flood victims.
Mr Sharif also thanked Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister of Climate Change Sherry Rehman and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for their efforts to convince the international financial institutions and the governments to open their coffers. He said the political rivals left no stone unturned to weaken Pakistan and created divisions among the people.
More details to follow…