Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on Friday, emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration with the United Nations to address critical problems of sustainable development and climate change.
During a meeting with the UN resident coordinator in Pakistan, Mohamed Yahya, Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to combat climate change, highlighting the need for a continuous association with the international community and the UN.
The prime minister praised the valuable work carried out by the UN Country team in Pakistan, particularly their efforts during the country’s climatic challenges. Sharif also extended his warm greetings to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, remembering his leadership and vital support he obtained for Pakistan during the devastating floods of 2022.
A key discussion point was the need for climate financing, which Sharif emphasized as a crucial component to address climate change impacts. He urged the nations developed to honor their financial commitments with the cause, underlining the importance of fulfilling these obligations to support mitigation and climate adaptation efforts worldwide.
Pakistan’s continuous collaboration with the UN was also emphasized, particularly in the implementation of several climate change projects. In addition, the prime minister emphasized the importance of closing the financing gap to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also guessed the greatest representation of developing countries in international financial institutions, asking for reforms in global financial architecture to better reflect the needs of emerging economies.
The meeting attended several senior government officials, including Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Economic Affairs, Ahad Khan Chema, Minister of Planning Ahsan IQBAL, special assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatmi and the coordinator of the first Minister for Climate Change, Mrs. Romina Khursheed Alam.
