Monday, 12 September, 2022 I 15 Safar, 1444 I Rs 40.00 I vol XIII No 74 I 44 Pages I Islamabad Edition
UN chief reiterates flood-hit PakistaN Needs global resPoNse g
CALLS FOR INCREASED FINANCING TO COUNTER EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
ISLAMABAD
U
staff report
NITED Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for substantial increase in financing to the developing countries for adaptation resilience to counter the negative effects of climate change. In an interview with PTv, aired on Sunday he said, “It is crucial that financial support to the developing countries in relation to adaptation resilience increases substantially.” “We need $300 billion for the adaptation of developing countries. Strong responsibility is needed for that.” Guterres said losses and damages to the environment were foreseen in the Paris agreement but there was no progress or serious dis-
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LEAvES FOR US AFTER WRAPPING UP TWO-DAy vISIT TO PAKISTAN
cussion on the issue. He was hopeful that progress would take place on the issue of climate change during upcoming discussions at the international level. Talking about the destruction caused by the floods in Pakistan, he said, “I have no words to describe what I have seen as the flooded area is three times larger than my country Portugal.” “I saw an unprecedented natural disaster, clearly caused by climate change and the people suffered enormously. People lost their houses, crops, cattle, livelihoods and some of them have to pay the loans that they asked for in order to plant crops. It is a human tragedy of an enormous dimension.” The UN Secretary General said at the same time he was deeply moved and inspired when he heard the stories of women and men who had abandoned their houses in order to go
and rescue the neighbours to safety. These examples of generosity, solidarity and courage make him feel that the world has the responsibility to massively support Pakistan, he said adding the dimension of the problem was enormous and the country did not have the resources to make their people and economy recover from the disaster. “We need to stop the war on nature. The nature is striking back with devastating consequences in Pakistan and other parts of the world,” he remarked. He said the victims of the natural disasters were not that polluted but the victims were in those places that were less protected against the nature due to climate change. “The international support is not a matter of generosity but a matter of justice. We must raise awareness and we must speak loudly against the tragedy.” PAkIStAN NEEDS GLOBAL RESPONSE: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres left for the US on Sunday after wrapping up his two-day visit to Pakistan while reiterating that the natural calamity which has hit the south Asian country needs global response. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah saw him off at Karachi Airport this morning. The UN chief paid the visit on 9th and 10th of this month to show solidarity with the people of Pakistan who are braving a colossal climateinduced natural disaster caused by unprecedented rains and floods across the country. During his visit he called for substantial and sustained support and solidarity from the international community to overcome the enormous challenges posed by the unprecedented climate induced floods in Pakistan.
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PM thanks UN boss for ‘support’ to flood victims ISLAMABAD staff report
The prime minister has thanked António Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations, for the visit to Pakistan to lend “unprecedented support” to the victims of historic floods. In a tweet, Shehbaz Sharif said Guterres’ tour was “critical” to raise global awareness about the tragedy. He reiterated that Pakistan needed international support and financial help to deal with the tragedy of nightmarish proportions. “A big thank you to Guterres for his unprecedented support of
the flood victims. His two-day visit has been critical in raising awareness about the human tragedy. Deeply touched by his empathy and leadership. Pakistan needs global support to overcome this challenge,” Sharif wrote. In a separate tweet, the prime minister said that during his visit to the flood-hit cities and camps under scorching heat, the top UN diplomat was overwhelmed by the scale of devastation that has engulfed Pakistan. “His voice has become the voice of flood victims. The world should pay heed to what he said about climate change,” he added.
During his interactions with the press and representatives of provincial governments, Guterres said the world owed Pakistan “massive” help in recovering from the floods because the country bears less blame than many others for the climate crisis. Months of heavy monsoon rains and flooding have killed over 1,400 people and affected 33 million while half a million people have become homeless. Planeloads of aid from the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries have begun arriving, but Guterres said there is more to be done to help a country
which contributes less than 1 percent of global emissions. “We are heading into a disaster,” Guterres said. “We have waged war on nature and nature is tracking back and striking back in a devastating way. Today in Pakistan, tomorrow in any of your countries.” Guterres left for the United States on Sunday. Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh, saw him off at Karachi airport in the morning. The trip came less than two weeks after the UN chief appealed for $160 million in emergency funding to help those affected by the deluge.
Pakistan observes state mourning today to mark Queen Elizabeth’s death ISLAMABAD/LONDON staff report
The government of Pakistan on Sunday announced one day of state mourning on Monday (today) as a mark of respect on the passing away of Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom. As Britain mourned the death of 96 years old monarch who reigned for 70 years, a string of dominions, realms and former colonies — including Pakistan and India — marked the loss of a shared figurehead and what many believed was an “irreplaceable link” to a quickly fading era. Shahbaz Sharif has remembered the queen as “extraordinary” in remarks echoed by leaders across the political spectrum. I’m “deeply grieved at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he tweeted, reacting to the news which came from Balmoral Castle in Scotland where the monarch breathed her last on September 8. “Pakistan joins the UK [and] other Commonwealth nations in mourning her death,” he added. On Sunday, on the recommendation of the Foreign Office, the prime minister accorded his approval for observing a Day of Mourning in Pakistan on Monday, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. The Cabinet Division has been directed to take “further necessary steps” in this regard, it added. In neighbouring India, New Delhi announced one day of state mourning on Sunday as a “mark of respect” on the passing away of the queen, an official statement said. “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth-II, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, passed away on September 8, 2022. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the government of India has decided that there will be oneday state mourning on September 11 throughout India,” The Indian Express reported, quoting the statement. COFFIN BEGINS ‘SLOW’ JOURNEY: Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth’s coffin began a six-hour journey from her home in the Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh on Sunday as crowds lined the roads in silence, paying tribute to the monarch who reigned for 70 years. At 10:00 am (0900 GMT), Elizabeth’s oak coffin, which had been in the ballroom of Balmoral Castle since she died on Thursday aged 96, was placed in a hearse by six gamekeepers. Shortly afterwards, the hearse emerged from the gates of Balmoral to head towards the Scottish capital. The coffin was draped in the royal standard of Scotland and with a wreath on top made up of flowers from the Balmoral estate, including sweet peas — one of Elizabeth’s favourites. The slow cortege is the first of a series of events leading up to the state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19.
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FAC to almost vanish from power bills next month: Dastgir GUJRANWALA staff report
The energy minister has heralded that the fuel adjustment charges (FAC) in the electricity bills will almost be vanished from next month and blamed the previous government of PTI for bloating power tariff. Talking to media here on Sunday, Federal Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said that the previous Imran Khanled government ruined country’s economy through its imprudent policies and people were bearing the brunt of its myopic economic vision. He said that every inflated electricity bill bore the stamp of Imran Khan. He held that the former prime minister even sold the State Bank of Pakistan to the International Monetary Fund. He also demanded to know where the money collected in the previous regime for constructing a dam had gone.
He said the country was facing unprecedented floods and large-scale destruction while the PTI was spending billions on public rallies. “If you have enough money to hold rallies, then you should spend this money on the rehabilitation of flood affectees,” he added. He said that the PTI had staged a drama in the country. They have nothing to tell the people about the progress they had made in their four-year stint, the minister maintained. He said had Imran been an able chief executive, he would have done something for the country. But it’s not the case, he said adding that the PTI chief was only good enough to level allegations against others. He lamented that the PTI was doing politics of threats and anarchy in the country. He said that the coalition government had put its political repute at stake to save the country adding that the PTI
could not be trusted as the resignations of its members were fake, its leader was a liar and they told lies every time. “The true face of the PTI will be revealed in cases of Farah Gogi, Toshakhana, Malam Jabba and the BRT,” he maintained. On destruction caused by the recent floods, the energy minister said that the electricity system was severely damaged during the recent deluges. He, however, said that the electricity had been restored in flood-hit areas. He informed that most of the damage was done to the electricity polls erected near the rivers. Taking a swipe at PTI zeal for public rallies these days, the minister said it was time to help the flood affectees, and not the time to do politics. ALL FLOODS DEvAStAtED GRID StAtIONS REStORED: Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan said on Sunday that power supply has fully been
restored to all grid stations affected by catastrophic floods. Addressing a news conference in Gujranwala on Sunday, Dastgir said the transmission system was badly dam-
aged by the unprecedented floods, as power poles were washed away in some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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