PM Shehbaz, US President Biden hold maiden meeting on sidelines of UNGA

NEW YORK    -     Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US President Joe Biden wherein he thanked him for his sympathy and solidarity for the flood-hit people of Pakistan. During the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the US president expressed condolence over the hundreds of deaths caused by devastating floods and sympathised with the bereaved families, according to a press release issued by PM Office on Friday. The prime minister particularly thanked the US president for his message to the international community for support to the flood-affected Pakistan. He also expressed gratitude to the US government and people over the visit of the USAID’s head to Pakistan as well as for sending the relief goods for flood survivors. The US president resolved to continue supporting Pakistan amidst the difficult humanitarian situation, the press release added. ‘Concrete actions’ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that as the world leaders continued to show massive sympathy for the flood-stricken people of Pakistan, it was the time for the world to translate their solidarity into concrete actions. The prime minister, who is currently on the US visit to attend 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, referred to his interaction with the world leaders on the sidelines. “As I continued my interaction with world leaders on day 3 of UNGA Session, there has been a massive outpouring of sympathy & solidarity with Pakistan on flood disaster. Time has come for world to translate this solidarity into concrete action to help Pakistan overcome this crisis,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter. The prime minister, who is about to address the UNGA session today, has been urging the world for debt relief to Pakistan to enable the country overcome the challenging situation, caused by the climate change-induced floods. ‘Appeal to rich nations’ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday made an urgent appeal for a “substantial” debt relief from rich nations as catastrophic floods exacerbated by climate change displaced millions of people in the country. In an interview with Bloomberg Television in New York, he said Pakistan had high debt obligations in the next two months.PM Sharif said his government had just signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund with “very tough conditionalities” that include taxes on petroleum and electricity. The floods have submerged a third of the country and killed more than 1,500 people. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on the international community to help Pakistan financially as damages caused by the floods exceed $30 billion. “We have spoken to European leaders and other leaders to help us in the Paris Club to get us moratorium,” Sharif said, referring to the group of rich creditor nations

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt