Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday the approval in principles of declaring a climatic and agricultural emergency in view of the monsoon rains and the situation of floods throughout the country.
The Prime Minister will soon convene a meeting of the main ministers of the four relevant provinces and officials to formulate a strategy aimed at mitigating more damage due to the adverse effects of climate change.
The decision was taken during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, where the members were informed about the scope of flood losses. Millions of agricultural land and crops have been damaged, told the cabinet, and the members suggested measures for infrastructure restoration, compensation for farmers and support for agricultural recovery.
The cabinet strongly condemned the offensive content and the derogatory statements that circulated on social networks against the martyrs and the armed forces.
When paying tribute to the officers and soldiers who continue to defend the country’s borders, the members also praised the families of the martyrs for their sacrifices. The cabinet directed a strict action against those involved in malicious campaigns, with the prime minister declaring that discouraging such elements was a national responsibility.
“The Pakistani nation can never forget the immense sacrifices of its martyrs and their families. I, together with the whole nation, I am proud of them,” said the prime minister. The meeting also prayed for the elevation of the ranks of Major Adnan Aslam Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom in the operation of Bannu.
Condolences and sentences were also offered for the late mother of the Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, the older brother of the Minister of State for Food Security, Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan, and the father of the former president of the Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Asif Sanjrani.
The prime minister strongly condemned the “illegal and atrocious” Israeli bombardment in Doha, which resulted in civilians and property damage. He expressed solidarity with the Emir of Qatar, the royal family and the people of Qatar about the tragedy.
Separately, the cabinet approved a proposal from the Ministry of Petroleum to provide RLNG connections to long -standing consumers. After this decision, the Sui Southern and Sui Northern gas companies will begin to extend these connections. RLNG, informed by the officials, will be around 30% cheaper than the LPG, providing significant relief to homes.
The cabinet also approved the trilateral agreement of the Intergovernmental Framework for a joint viability study on a strategic railway link between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Signed last month, the project is expected to play a key role in the impulse of regional trade and connectivity. By supporting the agreement, the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to the timely completion of this initiative.
In addition, the cabinet ratified the decisions previously made by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the Cabinet Committee on Intergovernmental Commercial Transactions (CCOIGCT) and the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases (CCLC).
With the climate and agricultural emergency that obtain approval in principle, the Government now focuses on developing a comprehensive response plan to safeguard the livelihoods, restore cultivation land and reinforce the country’s resistance to climate shocks.
