WASHINGTON - Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Tuesday said that Pakistan does not want charity but economic justice as it produces only 0.8 percent carbon but it is the most affected country due to global warming.
Addressing a dialogue held in Wilson Centre in Washington, he said that thirty-three million people of Pakistan have been affected while standing crops at four hundred thousand people of Pakistan. He said that the wealthy countries should provide 100 billion US dollars a year to less wealthy nations, to help them adapt to climate change and mitigate further rise in temperature.
He stressed the world countries to provide more medicines, tents, mosquito nets and food items for flood-hit areas as diseases have been prevailed in flood-affected areas of Pakistan. “F-16’s, obviously Indians are going to be upset, let them be, Kiya karein(what do we do)?” says FM Bilawal in response to a question at the Wilson Centre while in conversation with Michael Kugelman.
US has announced $10 million for Pakistan’s flood relief efforts in addition to the already announced assistance of $56.1 million. The announcement was made by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while speaking to press after meeting Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Washington D.C. A statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office says that Foreign Minister Bilawal apprised Secretary Blinken of the devastation caused by the cataclysmic floods with more than 33 million people displaced and a huge loss of lives and livelihoods.
He highlighted the relief efforts of the government and people of Pakistan and thanked the US government for its assistance.
The foreign minister said no country could deal with a crisis of this proportion on its own.
He emphasised that Pakistan, being one of the lowest emitters, was ironically one of the most severely impacted by climate change.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan was seeking climate justice and looked towards its partners for assistance in recovery efforts from this climate induced calamity.
Bilawal said that Pakistan was committed to building back better, greener and climate resilient infrastructure in areas such as irrigation, communication, energy, agri-technology, and health. Immediate action is required to help developing countries effectively face the climate crisis. The foreign minister underscored the historic and growing importance of Pakistan-US relationship in promoting peace, security, and economic prosperity in the region.
The statement said FM Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening and broadening its ties with the US, particularly in the areas of trade and investment and underlined that both countries were celebrating 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in a befitting manner. Secretary Blinken expressed condolences and solidarity with Pakistan over the loss of precious lives and monumental economic losses. He reaffirmed US commitment to continue cooperating with Pakistan in meeting the challenges of rehabilitation and reconstruction.