Collective efforts are vital to mitigate adverse impacts of climate change, says FM Bilawal Bhutto

NEW YORK (92 News) - Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that collective efforts are vital to mitigate adverse impacts of climate change.

Addressing the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that being the 8th most vulnerable country to climate change, Pakistan is facing the cataclysmic consequences of climate change despite minuscule contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Preliminary estimates pointed to losses in excess of 30 billion dollars.

“The scale and magnitude of flood-losses in Pakistan was too big and the international community's support is vital to complement upcoming rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. More than financial assistance, Pakistan needed climate justice and a Green Plan to rebuild its infrastructure and economy,” he added.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also highlighted government's sustained and robust measures in dealing with this calamity, despite challenges.

Expressing appreciation for the solidarity and support extended by the US for the flood affected people and to Pakistan, the foreign minister reiterated the importance Pakistan attached to its historic and longstanding ties with the US and its commitment to reinforce this bilateral relationship. “Pakistan would continue to work with the international community to achieve peace, development, and stability in Afghanistan and hoped that international community will assist the Afghan people overcome severe financial hardships with a view to averting humanitarian crisis in the country.”

“In India, the rampant discrimination and persecution of Muslims driven by the violent extremist ideology of Hindutva is a matter of great concern. In the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India is reducing the Muslim majority into a minority by making demographic changes and disenfranchising them by redrawing the electoral constituencies,” he added.

The foreign minister called on India to reverse the illegal and unilateral steps of 5 August 2019 and hoped that enabling conditions will be created to bring peace and stability in the region.