Sharm El-Sheikh, 9 November 2022 (TDI): Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif addressed world leaders at the UN Climate Conference, COP27 in Egypt on Tuesday.
During his statement, he highlighted the plight of the flood Pakistan is going through and declared it the worst catastrophe induced by Climate Change.
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In this regard, he said that flood has impacted almost 33 million people, the number is equal to the size of three European countries, with children and women being the most affected individuals.
He enunciated that almost 8,000 Km of highways, 3,000 Km of railway tracks, and crops over four million acres of land have been damaged as a result of the flood.
Pointing out the severity of the situation he said “The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment estimates over $30 billion in loss and damage.”
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While mentioning the governmental efforts in helping flood victims, he said “Pakistan is spending billions of dollars from its resources to provide shelter, homes, medical aid, and food package to millions of people.”
He said that it is difficult for the government of Pakistan to carry out this gigantic task while asking the international community to help Pakistan in dealing with this disaster.
The Prime Minister emphasized that loss and damage need to be part of the COP27 core agenda to meet the pressing humanitarian needs of those who were trapped in a financial crisis and had no resources to fund climate disasters.
There is a need to create a Global Climate Risk Index, where projects from the most vulnerable countries could be prioritized and given climate finances, he added.
He appreciated COP27 and declared it the only platform where developing countries can take their case to rich countries, to build a common purpose for justice, and carbon neutrality.
Shehbaz Sharif concluded his statement by saying that COP is the only chance to find solutions to climate change while stressing that “It is now or never as there is no Planet B for us.”
