Pakistan among world's top 10 countries most affected by climate change: Shehbaz
Pakistan
Says the country suffered $30bn loss in 2022 floods and praises NDMA for relief efforts
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan had been included in the red zone of climate change and is one of the world’s 10 countries most affected by the phenomenon.
Speaking at ceremony held here to launch the National Emergencies Operation Centre set up under the NDMA here, he encouraged the nation and stressed that “we must not lose heart and work hard.”
He was all praise for the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) for its “important role in the rehabilitation of flood victims” in 2022.
He recalled that the country suffered $30 billion loss in 2022 floods. The deluge wreaked havoc in Sindh and the NDMA played an important role in rescue and rehabilitation of flood victims, he added.
The prime minister commended the NDMA chairman who took steps to tackle the challenges of climate change. The NDMA devised a strategy and implemented it successfully in unison with other departments.
He mentioned the NDMA's weather information system and said it is a role model for other departments as well.
The joint efforts of the provinces and the federal government ensured the rehabilitation of the flood victims, he continued.
He said Pakistan faced many floods in the past and the government had earmarked Rs100 billion for the rehabilitation of flood victims in the next budget.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan raised voice for the flood victims at a donors’ conference in Geneva and stressed on measures for their rehabilitation.
He promised that the government would provide all possible resources to the NDMA. He urged the NDMA to follow merit, pay no heed to any recommendation, pick the best manpower and pay special attention to their training, the premier stated.
He stressed the NDMA to be in close contact with the provinces and have an integrated and comprehensive communication system.
The premier said that the government has earmarked Rs80 billion for information technology. A Chinese company would impart IT skills to 300,000 children every year. The government has planned to train millions of our boys and girls in IT so that they could earn decent living.
