Who is to blame for the flood devastation in Pakistan?

[MenInG]

As per PDM boys, the climate changes are the reason. They are of course right but how much is the lack of infrastructure on our side of the fence to blame as well? Have we failed to plan properly?

==

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the developed countries on Monday to step up their climate efforts, including the provision of predictable climate finance for mitigating the adverse impacts of the phenomenon in the developing world.

Talking to a US Congressional delegation, led by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the foreign minister underlined that despite being one of the lowest emitters of carbon emissions, Pakistan was the most impacted by the climate change.

“Pakistan is neither the first, nor the last country to face a climate catastrophe,” the foreign minister told the delegation. He underscored the need for engaging on a common climate agenda and called for climate justice at the global level.

Bilawal appreciated the visit of delegation – which also included Congressman Thomas Souzzi and Congressman Al Green. He said that visit form 4-6 September came at a time when super floods had ravaged Pakistan.

In the floods of historic proportions, Bilawal said, more than 1,300 lives had been lost; over 33 million people affected; over 4 million acres of crops washed away; and close to a million livestock perished.

“Currently, the government is fully engaged in the rescue and relief efforts,” he said, emphasising that rehabilitation of the millions of affected people and reconstruction of critical infrastructure required enormous resources which was a huge challenge.

The foreign minister hoped that the international community would recognise the enormity of the challenge faced by Pakistan and assist the government in its rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

Congresswoman Lee underscored that she was over whelmed by the devastation caused by floods and maintained that her delegation, having assessed the on-ground situation, would support efforts of the US Congress and the US Administration to assist Pakistan.
APP

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Sweden's politicians are ignoring the climate crisis in the run-up to the election on Sept 11 and treating it as if it were just a problem rather than a life-or-death threat, activist Greta Thunberg said.

Thunberg, whose Friday protests outside Sweden's parliament years ago turned into a global youth movement demanding action on climate change, said the issue had been "pretty much non-existent," during the campaign.

She said politicians were treating the climate as a distant problem. "Just take Pakistan now, as an example, a very clear example," she said.

Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in Pakistan's northern mountains have brought floods that have affected 33 million people and killed at least 1,290, including 453 children.

"We focus on the climate when we have time to spare, it feels like," Thunberg said. "It's something that - yes, it's a problem and not an existential emergency that affects all other issues as it should be."

"We have been completely been focusing on other things," she told Reuters.

She said politicians and the media had "chosen not to communicate that so many of the crises that we are experiencing now are very closely interlinked".

"Therefore, people of course only focus on things that are right ahead of them instead of actually focusing on the larger holistic picture," she said.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/237515...g-climate-crisis-while-citing-pakistan-floods

 

[daytrader]

Lack of dams is to blame. All previous governments have ignored this issue. The only real climate change initiative we've taken is the billion tree tsunami

 

[KingKhanWC]

Lack of dams is to blame. All previous governments have ignored this issue. The only real climate change initiative we've taken is the billion tree tsunami

I think PTI was working on this but should have started 20 years ago.

The issue was the rain from what ive read, they called it rain on steroids. I hope there wasnt any weather machines used by certain government(s). We know drones along with shooting electricity thickens clouds makes it rain or rain harder.

 

[MenInG]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday revealed that the ongoing flooding had cost Pakistan $30 billion, urging the international community to extend “massive support” to a country that had little contribution to the emissions but bore the brunt of the climate change.

The UN chief is in Pakistan to show solidarity with the country devastated by climate-induced floods and get a firsthand account of the devastation.

As many as 33 million people were affected by the natural disaster with people losing not just homes but their livelihood.

The scale of the devastation seems to have surpassed the “super floods” of 2010 as at that time Pakistan suffered losses of close to $10 billion.

Express Tribune

 

[finalfantasy7]

Lack of dams is to blame. All previous governments have ignored this issue. The only real climate change initiative we've taken is the billion tree tsunami

spot on.

How are the dams getting along ? they were building another one in kashmir - joint project with china i believe? hows that going on?

Has thr been any attempt on building a dam in sindh?, if so how long till completion ?

 

[sweep_shot]

Flood can happen anywhere. Even developed countries can have it.

I don't think climate change is the reason. More dams are necessary perhaps.

 

[daytrader]

Army chief’s blueprint for ‘climate-proof’ future

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Saturday that Pakistan will need a long-term plan which includes “delayed action dams and water drainage system” to mitigate the impacts of disasters caused by climate change.

The army chief made these remarks during his visit to flood-affected areas of Dadu, a district in Sindh most parts of which are currently under eight feet of water.

“We will need to build more mega dams in Pakistan. I cannot say anything about the location of these dams. In Swat, we will need to build dams as well…to control [the flow of] water”, as they produce clean energy and reduce pollution.

Gen Bajwa said following the super floods in 2010, the country had prepared a strategy to deal with riverine floods, but the administration was not ready for the abnormal rainfall which had wreaked havoc along both banks of the Indus River.

Suggests delayed-action dams, drainage systems, prefab housing to settle displaced persons in short-term

He said that in order to mitigate the challenges on the west bank of the river that overflowed and inundated Dadu, the country will need to come up with a long-term strategy because, in the absence of these measures, the residents along the west bank will continue to suffer. In order to secure the west bank of the Indus, an initial study has been conducted by the army and a report will be presented in a meeting of the prime minister and chief ministers next week, he said, adding that international experts will also help in this process.

Speaking about rescue operations across the country, the army chief said in most flood-hit areas, the rescue operations have been wrapped up barring occasional emergency cases, whereas, in Dadu, the rescue work was still underway. “This is the worst flood-hit region. Manchar and Hamal lakes, which are 100km away from each other, have joined. In other areas, rescue operations are over…[but] we are still busy in rescue and relief tasks,” Gen Bajwa said while talking about the situation in Dadu.

About Dadu where almost eight-foot high water is accumulated, the COAS said the water in the area will recede once the situation in the Indus River is improved. The water from Mancharr Lake will make its way to Indus. However, in Khairpur and Sukkur, the authorities will require water pumps for de-watering since they were low-lying areas. “We will have to commit to long-term planning and build dams and improve drainage systems,” the army chief added.

In his remarks about health conditions and a possible outbreak of diseases in Dadu, the army chief said the military doctors have been deployed in the area in the light of a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases.

The army chief also floated the idea of building prefab houses to rehabilitate the people. A house costs Rs0.5 million and an entire village comprising 50-100 two-bedroom units could be set up in days, he said, adding that the village could be set up on higher ground in Sindh or Balochistan.

Gen Bajwa said Pakistan was one of the worst victims of climate change even though it attributed merely 1pc to global emissions. “Our glaciers are melting, we are paying the price for other countries’ actions,” he said while calling for a globally coordinated approach to dull the blow of climate change disasters.

Speaking to reporters, the army chief said the global community had come forward to help Pakistan in this difficult but the nation will have to play its part in the rehabilitation of the flood-hit areas as not everything could be left to the international community. He urged people from urban and rural Sindh to donate to the relief fund, saying people from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were contributing to the relief efforts.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Global warming is likely to have played a role in the devastating floods that hit Pakistan, say scientists.

Researchers from the World Weather Attribution group say climate change may have increased the intensity of rainfall.

However there were many uncertainties in the results, so the team were unable to quantify the scale of the impact.

The scientists believe there's roughly a 1% chance of such an event happening in any coming year.

In the two months since flooding began in Pakistan, tens of millions of people have been affected, with around 1,500 dying because of the rising waters.

The intensity of the downpours saw the river Indus burst its banks, while landslides and urban flash floods swamped many areas.

Right from the start, politicians pointed to climate change as having made a significant contribution to the desperate scenes.

But this first scientific analysis says the picture is complex.

Certainly, the crippling heatwaves that gripped India and Pakistan earlier this year were easier to attribute, with researchers finding that climate change had made them up to 30 times more likely to happen.

But extreme rainfall events are hard to assess. Pakistan is located on the edge of the monsoon region where the rainfall pattern is extremely variable from year to year.

Map showing damage done by monsoon rains

Further complications include the impact of large-scale weather events such as La Niña, which also played a role in the last major floods in Pakistan in 2010.

During the 60-day period of heaviest rainfall this summer scientists recorded an increase of about 50% over the Indus river basin, while the heaviest five-day period over the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan recorded a rise in rainfall of around 75%.

The researchers then used climate models to determine how likely these events would be in a world without warming.

Some of the models indicated that the increases in rainfall intensity could all be down to human-caused climate change - however there were considerable uncertainties in the results.

"Our evidence suggests that climate change played an important role in the event, although our analysis doesn't allow us to quantify how big the role was," said Friederike Otto from Imperial College London, one of the report's authors.

"What we saw in Pakistan is exactly what climate projections have been predicting for years. It's also in line with historical records showing that heavy rainfall has dramatically increased in the region since humans started emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And our own analysis also shows clearly that further warming will make these heavy rainfall episodes even more intense."

"So while it is hard to put a precise figure to the contribution of climate change, the fingerprints of global warming are evident."

The researchers say that the heavy rainfall that Pakistan endured this year now has around a 1% chance of recurring in any given year, although this estimate does come with a large range of uncertainty as well.

BBC

 

[SalimBhai]

For sure global warming and Pakistan is not a big contributor to global warming, However lack of dams, infrastructure is Pakistans fault.

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that Pakistan would need debt relief and would seek compensation for climate damage as it recovers from catastrophic floods that cost the country some $30 billion.

Speaking at the COP27 climate conference alongside United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the premier said that Pakistan’s escalating public debt was hampering its recovery.

“Millions of people are going into winter without shelter or livelihood,” PM Shehbaz said. “Women and children are still looking to us to protect their basic needs.”

At the climate talks this year in Egypt, Pakistan and other climate-vulnerable countries are demanding that the UN take steps to mobilize “loss and damage” funds for disaster-hit nations, and some say rich nations have a duty to pay these costs because their historical emissions are mostly responsible for global warming today.

“We have mobilized every available resource toward the national relief effort,” but it is not enough, PM Shehbaz said — describing hundreds of broken bridges across the country, as well as stagnant lake water now fouling Pakistan’s southern agricultural landscape.

Meanwhile, Guterres urged international financial institutions like the World Bank and leaders at the upcoming G20 summit in Indonesia to reform policies that govern debt relief and concessional loan decisions so as to help middle-income countries like Pakistan focus on rebuilding rather than repayment.

“There should be a way to have a (debt) swap exchanging the payments of the debt to investments in the rehabilitation and recovery and reconstruction from natural disasters,” the secretary general added.

PM Shehbaz arrived in Egypt on Sunday where he was received by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Guterres at the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre.

In his meetings, the premier drew the attention of the international community to help Pakistan overcome the risks of climate change.

The heads of several governments — in their interaction with Shehbaz on the sidelines of the mega climate change summit — termed his continued presence in the flood-affected areas as an “extraordinary gesture”, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The premier highlighted the damage suffered by Pakistan in wake of the recent flash floods and emphasised transforming key climate-related decisions into concrete actions and credible plans.

While thanking the international community for helping the flood-struck people in Pakistan, the prime minister stressed that as a developing country most affected by the phenomenon, Pakistan needed urgency of climate solidarity and climate justice.

DAWN

 

[Champ_Pal]

If it is climate change, then it is the handy work of God. God causes rain irregularities. Famines and floods are part of natural cycle. They have been happening since Earth was created.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan has said that it will not be satisfied unless U.N. climate summit negotiators unlock emergency cash for the country to rebuild after this year's devastating floods. Pakistan's climate minister Sherry Rehman told Reuters that "the dystopia has already come to our doorstep" and they need money to tackle the crisis and rebuild the country.

 

[Cricket-lion]

Pakistan has said that it will not be satisfied unless U.N. climate summit negotiators unlock emergency cash for the country to rebuild after this year's devastating floods. Pakistan's climate minister Sherry Rehman told Reuters that "the dystopia has already come to our doorstep" and they need money to tackle the crisis and rebuild the country.

May be she needs to stop her foreign trips on tax payers money so that the money can be better utilised for the benefit of the public.

 

[RajBan]

Pakistan has said that it will not be satisfied unless U.N. climate summit negotiators unlock emergency cash for the country to rebuild after this year's devastating floods. Pakistan's climate minister Sherry Rehman told Reuters that "the dystopia has already come to our doorstep" and they need money to tackle the crisis and rebuild the country.

Before countries can go play the victim card blindly , they should present the report card at such conventions what kind of steps they have take in terms of infrastructure build up and population management. When countries start raising concerns about global warming , they need to be accountable for unmanaged population that not just adds to the same problem that they are apparently worried about but also lack of human planning and infrastructure multiplies the suffering of that same population.

Developing countries also need to keep in mind that they lack the costly cleaner technology which developed countries are transitioning to and when they make the carbon emission a question of morality to get tactical advantage, it will limit their options to fatal effect for further economic activities in their own yard .

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Before countries can go play the victim card blindly , they should present the report card at such conventions what kind of steps they have take in terms of infrastructure build up and population management. When countries start raising concerns about global warming , they need to be accountable for unmanaged population that not just adds to the same problem that they are apparently worried about but also lack of human planning and infrastructure multiplies the suffering of that same population.

Developing countries also need to keep in mind that they lack the costly cleaner technology which developed countries are transitioning to and when they make the carbon emission a question of morality to get tactical advantage, it will limit their options to fatal effect for further economic activities in their own yard .

We have a managed population in the UK but we still can't handle devastating floods or hurricane winds. Which clean technology would have alleviated us here on the few occasions we have been faced with such problems?

 

[RajBan]

We have a managed population in the UK but we still can't handle devastating floods or hurricane winds. Which clean technology would have alleviated us here on the few occasions we have been faced with such problems?

Cleaner and Recyclable technology in the conjunction to global warming. Often we see the narrative that high carbon emission by US, Europe are adding to global warming resulting in floods , droughts etc. While there is no doubt that high unwarranted consumption in certain parts is not helping in terms of a sustainable environment, we need to keep in mind that causes and effects of global warming are much more complex. For example the way there is unaccounted deforestation in developing countries, it makes them very vulnerable against natural disasters but then it's easy to point out at developed countries without taking any ownership at home.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Cleaner and Recyclable technology in the conjunction to global warming. Often we see the narrative that high carbon emission by US, Europe are adding to global warming resulting in floods , droughts etc. While there is no doubt that high unwarranted consumption in certain parts is not helping in terms of a sustainable environment, we need to keep in mind that causes and effects of global warming are much more complex. For example the way there is unaccounted deforestation in developing countries, it makes them very vulnerable against natural disasters but then it's easy to point out at developed countries without taking any ownership at home.

So it's the poor countries which need to take responsibilty? Am I reading that right?

 

[RajBan]

So it's the poor countries which need to take responsibilty? Am I reading that right?

They certainly can't abdicate their accountability of destroying their own environment, not managing their resources and so on. Again it's not absolute in nature.. right? Just because developing countries need to manage better does not give a freeway to developed countries to burn resources at will and add to the misery. The accountability is collective and the measures are multi pronged. Unfortunately right now there is a simplistic narrative given by political leadership of the developing countries to their masses putting the entire onus on external forces.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

They certainly can't abdicate their accountability of destroying their own environment, not managing their resources and so on. Again it's not absolute in nature.. right? Just because developing countries need to manage better does not give a freeway to developed countries to burn resources at will and add to the misery. The accountability is collective and the measures are multi pronged. Unfortunately right now there is a simplistic narrative given by political leadership of the developing countries to their masses putting the entire onus on external forces.

Which country do you live in? I am asking so I can understand where you are coming from.

 

[RajBan]

Which country do you live in? I am asking so I can understand where you are coming from.

India

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

India

So why isn't India more vocal on envronmental issues?

 

[RajBan]

So why isn't India more vocal on envronmental issues?

What do you mean by that? I don't understand what your point is.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

What do you mean by that? I don't understand what your point is.

Actually I don't understand what your point is. The thread was about flood devastaton in Pakistan. Natural disasters happen across the globe. Is that the fault of any one nation?

 

[RajBan]

Actually I don't understand what your point is. The thread was about flood devastaton in Pakistan. Natural disasters happen across the globe. Is that the fault of any one nation?

You have made the right point. Like what you said that the floods are unfortunate and may very well be a natural disaster to start with which definitely needs help and attention across. But Pakistan in this instance and other developing countries at some other time either discretely or collectively love to put the blame squarely on developed countries asking for resources while doing very little themselves at home.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

You have made the right point. Like what you said that the floods are unfortunate and may very well be a natural disaster to start with which definitely needs help and attention across. But Pakistan in this instance and other developing countries at some other time either discretely or collectively love to put the blame squarely on developed countries asking for resources while doing very little themselves at home.

So as an Indian, do you believe India should shun large scale industry and reforest areas where tigers have become endangered?

 

[RajBan]

So as an Indian, do you believe India should shun large scale industry and reforest areas where tigers have become endangered?

Shunning large scale industries is practically impossible for a 1.5 b country. What they certainly needs to do is to have a sustainable model and ensure that fruits of the investment reach every corner of the population.

 

[MenInG]

Shehbaz Sharif's article in the Guardian

Support for Pakistan has ebbed away – yet its deadly floodwaters have not

The apocalyptic rains and floods that hit Pakistan last summer claimed 1,700 lives, left a swathe of territory the size of Switzerland under water and affected 33 million people – more people than live in most European countries.

International attention has receded, but the waters have not. Large parts of Sindh and Balochistan provinces remain inundated. The number of food-insecure people in Pakistan has doubled to 14 million; another 9 million have been pushed into extreme poverty. These flooded areas now look like a huge series of permanent lakes, transforming forever the terrain and the lives of people living there. No amount of pumps can remove this water in less than a year; and by July 2023, the worry is that these areas may flood again.

Pakistan is suffering not just from flooding but from recurring climate extremes – earlier in spring 2022, the country was in the grip of a scorching, drought-aggravating heatwave that caused forest fires in the west. The fact that some of the same areas that received record temperatures were subsequently submerged underlines the sharp swings in weather patterns that are becoming a norm.

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...oodwaters-climate-disasters-international-aid

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday sought $8 billion from Pakistan’s international partners over the next three years to rebuild the country that is reeling from last year’s disastrous floods as United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for massive support to aid the rebuilding effort.

The two made the remarks as the ‘International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan’ kicked off in Geneva. PM Shehbaz co-hosted the conference along with the UN chief.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

WB diverts $615m for flood-relief work
Amount taken out of schemes facing implementation delays

The World Bank has diverted $615 million from ongoing slow moving projects towards rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood-affected areas, which Pakistan was unable to use due to multiple issues hindering implementation on these schemes.

The Washington-based lender had informed the Climate Resilient Pakistan Conference, Geneva, this week that it would contribute $2 billion towards relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the areas affected by floods. However, it is not new money, as the World Bank has already approved projects or it diverted funds from the schemes that were moving slow and the lender was considering cancelling those loans.

Of the $2 billion pledges that the World Bank announced at the Geneva conference, $615 million was taken out of schemes that had already been approved but were facing implementation delays.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2396090/wb-diverts-615m-for-flood-relief-work

 

[shortbread]

 

[daytrader]

Massive water shortage likely months after unprecedented floods

In the coming Kharif season, beginning on April 1, the country is heading towards a ‘massive water shortage’, somewhere between 27 per cent and 35 per cent, only months after unprecedented floods submerged large swathes of lands across Sindh and southern Punjab, Irsa sources told Dawn.

In view of the higher shortage, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) would be compelled to follow a controversial three-tier water management mechanism for distribution of shares to provinces and lead to rifts among the key coalition partners — PML-N in Punjab and PPP in Sindh.

Informed sources said that two major stakeholders — Sindh and Punjab — were poles apart on water conveyance losses — the quantum of available water that remains unaccounted for and lost to theft, leakage, evaporation or absorbed by soil or canals and could not reach farm lands.

Punjab believes that system losses or conveyance losses were around 7pc and 8pc, given the huge water quantities absorbed by the farmlands in super floods in Rabi season that has just ended, whereas Sindh insists system losses ranged between 35pc and 40pc, particularly in its territories between Chashma and Kotri barrages.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1744764

 

[daytrader]

Govt urges caution as Pakistan braces for showers

Amid the forecast of heavy rains across the country between April 26 and May 7, Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday advised the provinces to take necessary precautions and stay alert to ensure public safety during this period while expressing the apprehension that the country might ‘fall into a recovery trap’.

From Kashmir to Karachi, according to her, one must be prepared to expect unstable weather patterns leading to sporadic urban flooding.

The Met Office earlier cautioned tourists, farmers and relevant authorities that strong wind and hailstorms may cause damage to lose infrastructure and standing crops (particularly wheat crop), while heavy showers may trigger flashfloods in parts of Balochistan and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan from April 28 till May 2 and in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from May 1 to May 4.

Also, landslides may occur in the hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Murree and Galliyat during the period.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1749537/govt-urges-caution-as-pakistan-braces-for-showers

 

[daytrader]

The World Bank has approved $200 million in financial assistance for Pakistan for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and development of the rural areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which were devastated by the last year’s savage floods.

The bank said that the amount would be spend on the flood victims of the K-P and it would benefit 5.5 million people. In a report on June 7, the bank said that the effects of August 2022 floods had affected production.

The foreign exchange to pay for imported food, energy, and raw materials remained in short supply, while industrial production was down 25% by March 2023, the bank said.

It should be noted that earlier the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) had also announced $4.2 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.

 

[daytrader]

Dar promises $11bn for Sindh flood victims
The finance minister tells the NA session total flood losses are estimated at $30.3bn

Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said on Monday the issue of rehabilitation of flood-affected people in Sindh as well as other parts of the country would be resolved amicably and roughly $11 billion would be spent in Sindh province for the purpose.

Responding to a point of order from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Dr Nafeesa Shah in the National Assembly, he said a comprehensive roadmap had almost been devised under the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas. He said immediate relief work had already been done throughout the country with the disbursement of Rs25,000 per family through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) programme.

He said around Rs100 billion had already been spent in addition to the assistance, extended by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in kind. The finance minister said the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet had recently approved Rs12 billion to replenish the stock of the NDMA, keeping in view the predicted threats of the monsoon and the cyclone.

The finance minister said that following the widespread destruction, caused by the heavy rains and floods, a comprehensive report had been prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union and the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives that suggested the economic and physical loses stood at around $30.3 billion.

He said funds amounting to $16.3 billion were required to execute the physical work like repair of damaged houses and infrastructure, under the ‘4RF’ strategy i.e. “Resilient recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction framework”.

“The issue will be resolved, as there are no two opinions on rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. Roughly $11 billion, out of $16.3 billion, will be spent in Sindh under the 4RF policy,” the finance minister assured the PPP leadership.

In the general donors’ conference, the minister regretted that less than $400 million were received, while the pledges were made for bearing 50 per cent financing for the reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1082384-dar-promises-11bn-for-sindh-flood-victims

 

[Hitman]

Global lenders would spend billions on war but only offer loans to flood-ravaged Pakistan: PM Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decried on Thursday the response of international institutions to Pakistan’s appeals for funds following catastrophic floods in 2022, saying that it was offered loans whereas billions were being spent on the defence of “a country or countries”.

The premier made these remarks at the two-day New Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris where he stressed the need for a fair and equitable formula for the distribution of financial resources in the world.

He is among several global leaders gathered in Paris for the summit to tease out a new consensus on international economic reforms to help debt-burdened developing countries face a growing onslaught of challenges, particularly climate change.

PM Shehbaz began his speech by recalling the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan last year, “as a result of climate change”.

The PM said 33 million people were affected by those floods and millions of acres of standing crops was washed away while around 1,700 people had died. Moreover, he added that half a million animals drowned in the floods and two million house were either completely demolished or partially damaged.

To help those affected by the floods, he said, “we had to cough out hundreds of millions of dollars from our own pocket with our scarce resources … Of course, we are very grateful to our friendly countries across the globe for their valuable and timely contribution, but largely, the cash amount had to be generated from our own resources.

“And when we approached international institutions, they said, ‘Well, we can give you loans.’”

The premier said when these institution were asked whether the already stretched resources of Pakistan be burdened further, their reply was debt-structuring would not be good for the country.

“We know that there are tensions around the globe, and billions and billions of dollars are being spent over there, to defend this [country],” he said in apparent reference to Ukraine.

“On one hand, you are ready to provide everything for the defence of a country or countries — that is perfectly okay — but when it comes to the question of saving thousands and thousands of people from dying, then [one has] to borrow money at a very high cost. Then you have to … beg and borrow and further deteriorate your already very precarious financial situation,” he decried.

The premier emphasised the need for a “fair, equitable and judicious” formula for the distribution of financial resources. Otherwise, he said, “this world will never live in peace”.

“Unless we come forward in generous terms to provide an opportunity, and a system, and a mechanism which will satisfy the most vulnerable at bare minimum, and which will create harmony in terms of economic justice and fairness, this world shall always be in trouble.

“It’s never too late. Let’s stand up and say no to injustice,”he concluded.

Call for ‘finance shock’

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron told the delegates in his opening remarks the world needs a “public finance shock” — a global surge of financing — to fight these challenges, adding the current system was not well suited to address global challenges.

Macron, who is hosting the two-day conference, invited Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley to co-headline the event which seeks to improve the lending system for developing countries mired in poverty and threatened by planet-heating emissions.

“Policymakers and countries shouldn’t ever have to choose between reducing poverty and protecting the planet,” Macron told the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.

Ugandan climate campaigner Vanessa Nakate took the podium after Macron and asked the audience to take a minute of silence for people who are suffering from disasters.

With oil-rich Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the crowd, she slammed the fossil fuel industry, saying they promise development for poor communities but the energy goes elsewhere and the profits “lie in the pockets of those who are already extremely rich”.

“It seems there is plenty of money, so please do not tell us that we have to accept toxic air and barren fields and poisoned water so that we can have development,” she said.

Mottley, whose Caribbean island nation is threatened by rising sea levels and tropical storms, has become a powerful advocate for reimagining the role of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an era of climate crisis.

“What is required of us now is absolute transformation and not reform of our institutions,” Mottley said.

Barbados has put forward a detailed plan for how to fix the global financial system to help developing countries invest in clean energy and boost resilience to climate impacts.

“We come to Paris to identify the common humanity that we share and the absolute moral imperative to save our planet and to make it livable,” said Mottley.

Outlining the challenges facing developing countries, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said more than 50 nations were now in or near debt default, while many African countries are spending more on debt repayments than on healthcare.

Guterres said the post-World War II global financial system was failing to rise to modern challenges and now “perpetuates and even worsens inequalities”.

“We can take steps right now and take a giant leap towards global justice,” he said, adding that he has proposed stimulus of $500 billion a year for investments in sustainable development and climate action.

In a nod to those looking for tangible progress from the summit, IMF director Kristalina Georgieva announced that a key pledge to rechannel $100bn of liquidity boosting “special drawing rights” into a climate and poverty fund had been met.

“Ultimately it is the future of humanity that is being discussed here,” she told reporters.

Macron also said he was hopeful that a 2009 pledge to deliver $100bn a year in climate finance to poorer nations by 2020 would finally be fulfilled this year — although actual confirmation the money has been delivered will take months if not years.

PM Shehbaz meets world leaders

Prior to the summit, PM Shehbaz met world leaders, as well as heads of the UN and International Monetary Fund (IMF), and highlighted the challenges faced by developing nations, particularly as a consequence of climate change.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived at Palais Brogniart to attend the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, France. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMatIntFinanceMoot?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMatIntFinanceMoot</a> <a href="https://t.co/DyV8kvXXqr">pic.twitter.com/DyV8kvXXqr</a></p>— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1671785325981515776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

According to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, PM Shehbaz met Macron on the summit’s sidelines today and underlined that developing nations were facing “problems of non-availability of resources, burden of interest for debt payments and slow development”.

And the devastating effects of climate change had added to the hardships of these already troubled countries, the report quoted him as saying.

It added that the premier appreciated Macron for his “bold step” towards a system that was based on financial justice for developing countries.

Helping indebted developing countries under a New Global Financing Pact was the need of the hour so that their citizens could get relief, he said, adding that the French president had made a significant effort to create global consensus on an important issue.

The premier also thanked the French president for inviting him to the moot and “his warm hospitality”.

For his part, Macron thanked PM Shehbaz for attending the summit, and the the two leaders agreed to remain engaged on issues of mutual interest, the Radio Pakistan report said.

The premier also met United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

During his exchange with the UN chief, the premier reiterated that climate change had exacerbated the financial burden on developing countries, which he said were facing new challenges in increasing economic growth and maintaining fiscal balance.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">وزیراعظم شہبازشریف کی اقوام متحدہ کے سیکریٹری جنرل <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AntonioGuterres</a> سے ملاقات۔<br><br>وزیراعظم نے سیکریٹری جنرل اقوام متحدہ کا پرتپاک خیرمقدم کیا اور نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار کیا۔ سیکریٹری جنرل اقوام متحدہ نے وزیراعظم کا جوابی خیرسگالی کے پرجوش جذبات سے خیرمقدم کیا۔ <a href="https://t.co/SyiPxbjdmS">pic.twitter.com/SyiPxbjdmS</a></p>— President PMLN (@president_pmln) <a href="https://twitter.com/president_pmln/status/1671858569535434752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He stressed the utilisation of the Loss and Damage Fund established during COP27 to provide financial assistance to developing nations.

The premier termed the summit in Paris for a new global financial agreement “ a good start in the right direction“ and emphasised the need for fair distribution of global financial resources along with climate justice for developing countries.

Later, he said he discussed with the UN chief the current status of rehabilitation of Pakistan’s flood victims.

“I thanked the secretary general for his consistent and powerful advocacy of climate change and his call for helping the developing countries to cope with the challenge.

“We agreed that the international community needs to deliver on its pledges for climate justice,” he tweeted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In my meeting with the UN Secretary General <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@antonioguterres</a> on the sidelines of the Summit for New Global Financing Pact, we discussed the current status of rehabilitation of Pakistan's flood victims. I thanked the Secretary General for his consistent and powerful advocacy of…</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1671935245531185158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier also met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and both leaders agreed to expedite the collaborative process in order to further bolster the bilateral cooperation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کی سعودی عرب کے وزیراعظم اور ولی عہد شہزادہ محمد بن سلمان سے ملاقات.ملاقات نئے عالمی مالیاتی معاہدے سے متعلق سربراہی اجلاس کے موقع پر ہوئی.وزیراعظم شہباز شریف نے سعودی فرمانروا شاہ سلمان بن عبد العزیز کے لئے نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار کیا.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMatIntFinanceMoot?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMatIntFinanceMoot</a> <a href="https://t.co/tyG20tGv3E">pic.twitter.com/tyG20tGv3E</a></p>— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1671800642967355392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The statement said the two leaders also exchanged views on matters of bilateral interest and PM Shehbaz extended best wishes for Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. In return, the crown prince expressed goodwill for the government and people of Pakistan, the statement added.

Later, the PM met US climate envoy John Kerry and the two leader extended good wishes to each other, according to an update on the PML-N’s Twitter.

The statement said the premier said climate change was a common problem of countries across the world and stressed that joint strategies and efforts were needed to address this issue.

Kerry being the first US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate was a recognition of the importance of the issue, he said, highlighting that increasing problems of climate change were having an adverse effect on economic growth and development, particularly in developing nations.

“Developing nations, in particular, should play a role in helping developing countries deal with the negative effect of climate change on economic growth,” he emphasised.

He said after establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP 27, promises of the provision of resources would have to be realised.

The premier also mentioned that the catastrophic floods of 2022 had added to Pakistan’s problems.

He termed the Paris Summit a “message of hope” for developing countries, highlighting the need for reform in the global financial structure to ensure the availability of resources to developing nations.

Kerry agreed with the premier on climate change increasing “risks” for developing countries, the PML-N statement said.

It added that both leaders agreed to proceed on the matter with consultation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">وزیراعظم شہبازشریف کی ماحولیات کے لئے امریکی صدر کے نمائندہ خصوصی اور سابق وزیر خارجہ جان کیری سے ملاقات<br><br>دونوں قائدین کی ملاقات نئے عالمی مالیاتی معاہدے سے متعلق عالمی سربراہی اجلاس کے موقع پر ہوئی <br><br>وزیراعظم شہبازشریف اور جان کیری نے ایک دوسرے کے لئے نیک تمناﺅں کا اظہار کیا… <a href="https://t.co/c960j6ydWf">pic.twitter.com/c960j6ydWf</a></p>— PMLN (@pmln_org) <a href="https://twitter.com/pmln_org/status/1671873170301698052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

According to the PMO, PM Shehbaz also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the New Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris, France. June 22, 2023.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMatIntFinanceMoot?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMatIntFinanceMoot</a> <a href="https://t.co/fZOj5L5ZtL">pic.twitter.com/fZOj5L5ZtL</a></p>— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1671919437715501056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The premier is also scheduled join the world leaders at a dinner reception hosted by the French president for the participating dignitaries of the Paris summit and hold bilateral meetings with different heads of state during the trip.

He arrived in Paris a day earlier where he was received by Pakistan’s ambassador in France and diplomatic officials, besides senior French government authorities.

Prior to his departure, he tweeted that he during the visit, he “will present Pakistan’s position on the need for restructuring of international financial institutions to fight the contemporary challenges facing humanity”.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The reform of international financial architecture has long been a key demand relentlessly made at different forums by public policy scholars, policy practitioners & world leaders especially from the Global South. The grave nature of challenges such as climate change, natural…</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1671380343281143811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“As a leading stakeholder in G-77 plus China grouping and also as a country adversely hit by climate change threat, Pakistan is better positioned for this role,” he said.

The reform of international financial architecture, he said, had long been a key demand relentlessly made at different forums by public policy scholars, policy practitioners and world leaders, especially from the Global South. He said the grave nature of challenges, such as climate change, natural disasters, environment, rising levels of debt and energy transitions, had rung alarm bells.

Meeting with IMF chief

Earlier today, PM Shehbaz met IMF Managing Director Georgieva and apprised her of steps taken to address Pakistan’s flailing economy, expressing hope that the funds allocated under the lender’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) would be released as soon as possible.

The premier’s meeting with Georgieva comes as Pakistan’s ninth review by the IMF under the 2019 EFF for the release of $1.2bn stays pending with less than 10 days remaining till the programme’s expiry on June 30.

The country was expected to get around $1.2bn from the lender in October last year as part of the EFF’s ninth review. But almost eight months later, that tranche has not materialised as the IMF says Pakistan has been unable to meet important prerequisites.

Because of this delay, the programme’s tenth review, which was originally part of the plan, is all but out of question.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office today, PM Shehbaz outlined the steps taken by the government for economic growth and stability in his meeting with the IMF managing director.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact being held in Paris, France, PM Shahbaz Sharif met Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, MD of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Views were exchanged on the ongoing programmes and cooperation between Pakistan and IMF. <a href="https://t.co/05rKbNVpi8">pic.twitter.com/05rKbNVpi8</a></p>— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1671782401146515458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“He underscored that all prior actions for the ninth review under the EFF had been completed and the government of Pakistan was fully committed to fulfilling its obligations as agreed with the IMF,” it said.

The prime minister, the statement said, expressed the hope that the funds allocated under the IMF’s EFF would be released as soon as possible. “This would help strengthen Pakistan’s ongoing efforts towards economic stabilisation and bring relief to its people.”

Meanwhile, IMF’s Georgieva shared her institution’s perspective on the ongoing review process. The PMO added that the meeting provided a useful opportunity to take stock of the progress in that context.

The meeting was also attended by Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, Economic Affairs Minister Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi and Pakistan’s Ambassador to France Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.

Later, PM Shehbaz said he and the IMF chief had a “productive exchange of views” on the IMF’s continued engagement with Pakistan.

“The government is fully committed to the ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Though all prior actions for the ninth Review have been completed, we are willing to take further steps jointly with IMF. Pakistan keenly looks forward to IMF Board’s approval for the ninth Review at the earliest,” he tweeted in response to a tweet by Georgieva.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was a pleasure to meet you & have a productive exchange of views on the IMF's continued engagement with Pakistan. The government is fully committed to the ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Though all prior actions for the 9th Review have been completed, we are willing to… <a href="https://t.co/1fAsxJsWeV">https://t.co/1fAsxJsWeV</a></p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1671893063562829825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link: https://www.dawn.com/news/1761120/g...d-ravaged-pakistan-pm-shehbaz-at-paris-summit

 

[cricketjoshila]

Why is the world oblidged to give Pakistan money?

 

[Hitman]

Why is the world oblidged to give Pakistan money?

Because they are a nuclear power who has a lot of nuisance value.

 

[saeedhk]

Why does the world give money to a failed state like Pakistan? Nobody is under any obligation to give a cent to Pakistan. I hope the world stops giving us alms so that we attempt to do something productive and earn money. Pakistani has be the biggest freeloader!

 

[daytrader]

One year after Pakistan floods, survivors still struggle to rebuild their lives

Last summer’s flooding in Pakistan killed at least 1,700 people, destroyed millions of homes, wiped out swathes of farmland, and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. All in a matter of months.

At one point, a third of the country was underwater.

Pakistani officials and scientists worldwide blame climate crisis for the unusually early and heavy monsoon rains.

A year on, the country hasn’t fully recovered. The aftermath runs the length of the country; survivors living in makeshift huts where their homes used to be, millions of children out of school, damaged infrastructure waiting to be repaired.

This journey through Pakistan looks at how the unprecedented flooding of 2022 affected everyday life - and future generations.

Restoring Water
The high altitudes and sharp peaks of the Hindu Kush Mountains mean that heavy rains barrel down through the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. That’s good because the waters quickly drain to lower lying areas. But it’s bad because of the damage they wreak along the way.

Last summer’s raging floods were so powerful that some rivers changed course. They wrecked more than 800 drinking water supply systems across nearly half of the province’s 34 districts, damaging pipelines, supply mains, storage tanks and wells.

...
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/worl...p&cvid=8fa5fa958cb34ca5b512c6380e7235f4&ei=15

 

[Major]

Why does the world give money to a failed state like Pakistan? Nobody is under any obligation to give a cent to Pakistan. I hope the world stops giving us alms so that we attempt to do something productive and earn money. Pakistani has be the biggest freeloader!

started due to Zia under the afghan miracle. Ended up building their nuclears. After that was done, and the payment stopped, than they used the War on Terrorism and shielded Osama bin Laden, under whose name we got more US Aid.

Eventually when he gets caught the aid stops, and Pakistan starts to panic. I remember in 2011 it was first time discussed that Pakistan tax collection is 1%. BEfore when Bin Laden was alive, no one in govt cared about tax collection

 

[RajBan]

Why is the world oblidged to give Pakistan money?

Pakistani establishment (and it's also reflected in some citizens) are an entitled bunch. But it's not just their fault. They have been pampered with extravagant aid and military ammunitions at nominal costs and no accountability since last 70 yrs by West, ME so that Pakistan can do their dirty job. And Pakistan has also obliged by being a rentier state be it their land assets , soldiers or civilians at stake. Their establishment also think they are smartest bunch and can bluff the wilful donors by putting the gun in their own and threatening to pull the trigger.

Even few years back the narrative has been let's take 2-3 billion dollars from Saudis and UAE if forex is less and tell them to forget about it after some time or give them some special privilege as we don't need to pay back our debt.

 

[RajBan]

started due to Zia under the afghan miracle. Ended up building their nuclears. After that was done, and the payment stopped, than they used the War on Terrorism and shielded Osama bin Laden, under whose name we got more US Aid.

Eventually when he gets caught the aid stops, and Pakistan starts to panic. I remember in 2011 it was first time discussed that Pakistan tax collection is 1%. BEfore when Bin Laden was alive, no one in govt cared about tax collection

I recall that. Musharraf administration was particularly vocal on economic growth , which was helped by the dollar flow that took place in 2000s

 

[Major]

I recall that. Musharraf administration was particularly vocal on economic growth , which was helped by the dollar flow that took place in 2000s

it was all dollar that was flowing. For odd reasons it coincided with whenever the army took over. Thus, the military gives a propaganda that whenever the army was in power the country was doing well economically.

 

[daytrader]

Sutlej River has been in high flood at Islam Headworks, with 1,51,000 cusecs flow, ARY News reported on Saturday.

The floodwater has submerged several areas in Vehari, Burewala, Lodhran and Bahawalpur and destroyed standing crops.

Sutlej has also been in high flood at Ganda Singh Headworks with present water flow 1,22,000 cusecs, Provincial Disaster Management Authority stated. The water level has been 20.8 feet.

The river has been in medium flood at Sulemanki Headworks as water going down at the point with present inflow 96,638 cusecs and outflow 83,720 cusecs, Provincial Disaster Management Authority stated.

A search has been underway to trace a resident of Chak Pana Mahar, Mohammad Rafique, who was swept away by the flood water.

Floodwater released from waterworks in India has drowned a vast area of Sutlej River belt breaking roads and temporary protective dykes across the border in Pakistan.

Sutlej River surges to high flood at Islam Headworks

LAHORE/BAHAWALNAGAR: Sutlej River has been in high flood at Islam Headworks, with 1,51,000 cusecs flow, ARY News reported on Saturday. The floodwater has

arynews.tv

 

[WicketLord]

Every year, floods occur in Pakistan, but no government has even attempted to prevent this disaster.

Because of climate change, this happens every year. I wish some government would also pay attention to these problems in Pakistan.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The flood level at Islam Headworks and Ganda Singh Wala in Sutlej River reduced to medium on Sunday while evacuations continued in vulnerable areas of Punjab.

A day ago, Sutlej was in high flood at the two points as dams built on the river on the Indian side neared their maximum capacity. Given the situation, several district administrations of the Punjab were directed to take prompt measures to ensure complete evacuation from all villages and settlements along the river.

But as of 2pm today, the Flood Forecasting Division said, the flood level fell to medium at the two spots following a decrease in the flow of water.


Dawn

 

[WicketLord]

This is Pakistan's misfortune; every year, there are floods in Pakistan, but no government has addressed this issue. Even the small dams that are constructed are of such poor quality that they collapse with a slight increase in water.

It requires long-term planning, but governments often work on short-term projects just to show people that they have completed such projects within their terms.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The European Union has released an additional one million euros in humanitarian aid to Pakistan for rehabilitation of the flood affected people.

The funding will help address the most pressing needs of the affected people in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It will be used to provide humanitarian assistance to those who are displaced or have returned to their place of origin and in view of the approaching winter season, multi-purpose cash assistance, shelter and non-food items will be prioritized.

This new funding is in addition to the 16.5 million euros already allocated in humanitarian assistance to Pakistan earlier this year.

In a statement, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic reiterated the commitment to help the people affected by floods and recent heavy pours.

(Pak Radio)

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Simple is that Pakistani government does not prioritize the construction of dams to avoid their cutt in commissions in the name of Aid.

Pakistan is a place where access to clean drinking water is difficult yet every year there are plenty of deaths by flooding occurs.

Unless dams are constructed, these issues will not get solved!

 

[daytrader]

Pakistan likely to get $3.4bn out of $10.9bn pledged in Geneva
A detailed scrutiny of committed pledges of $10.9 billion by the international donors for flood-hit areas shows that Pakistan is expected to receive approximately $3.4 billion

ISLAMABAD: A detailed scrutiny of committed pledges of $10.9 billion by the international donors for flood-hit areas shows that Pakistan is expected to receive approximately $3.4 billion only as net funding to execute the infrastructure projects.

Out of $10.9 billion pledges committed at Geneva, a major chunk of funding was committed in shape of commodities financing, oil facility, and re-purpose of funds so the net funding was left only for execution of development projects for flood-affected areas.

An in-depth analysis of $10.9 billion pledges shows that the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) committed $4.2 billion through ITFC for commodities and oil financing over a period of three years. The remaining commitment stood at $6.7 billion.

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) committed $1 billion for an oil facility which is expected to expire in December 2023. The Paris Club countries had pledged $1.2 billion so the remaining amount was standing at $4.5 billion.

Officials said the multilateral creditors had re-purposed around $1.127 billion for flood-affected areas out of which the World Bank re-purposed $299 million, Asian Development Bank (ADB) $78 million, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) $750 million.

After excluding the re-purpose funding of $1.1 billion, the remaining pledged net amount for construction in floor-hit areas stood at just $3.4 billion.

Now the Government of Pakistan has approved the execution of almost 13 development schemes for flood-affected areas out of which six projects were approved for Sindh, five projects for Balochistan, and one project each for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The progress on the ground has so far been dismally slow in Balochistan.

As far as the disbursement of the committed amount is concerned, Pakistan has only received $1.48 billion in shape of both project loans and commodities financing from multilateral and bilateral creditors out of total Geneva pledges of $10.9 billion.

The project financing has remained dismally slow and stood at just $780 million as of September 2023.

Pakistan likely to get $3.4bn out of $10.9bn pledged in Geneva

ISLAMABAD: A detailed scrutiny of committed pledges of $10.9 billion by the international donors for flood-hit areas shows that Pakistan is expected to receive approximately $3.4 billion only as net...

www.thenews.com.pk

 

[daytrader]

PAKISTAN SUCCESSFULLY SECURES $3B FOR FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) successfully approved 21 development projects worth $ 3 billion for flood-affected areas of Pakistan while securing maximum pledges committed in Geneva for flood 2022.

Last year Pakistan faced unprecedented devastation due to torrential rains and flooding in most parts of the country, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh affecting 33 million people resulting in economic losses worth $30 billion, said a press release issued here on Sunday.

In response, the government devised a comprehensive 4RF framework, which proposed effective coordination and participation arrangements among federal and provincial governments, development partners, donors, international and national NGOs, and academic and private sectors.

In January this year, Pakistan successfully secured pledges of $ 10 billion from donors during the International Conference on “Climate Resilient Pakistan”, jointly hosted by Pakistan and the UN in Geneva.

After the approval of CDWP and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, these projects are being successfully executed by the respective provinces which include Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank ADB and Islamic Development Bank. Sindh and Balochistan were the most affected provinces in the flood of 2022.

Pakistan successfully secures $3b for flood-affected areas

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) successfully approved 21 development projects worth $ 3 billion for flood-affected areas of

arynews.tv

 

[hassan918]

Pakistan receives $2.8b in flood relief so far​

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received $2.8 billion from international creditors against the $11 billion pledges made in the Geneva Conference for the flood-affected population so far, and it could spend only half of the received amount on the flood victims, with the remaining going for budget financing.

Almost half of the total disbursements of $2.8 billion were on account of non-flood-related loans, mainly given in the shape of oil financing and budgetary support. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has termed the $2.8 billion disbursement a significant achievement, as 20% releases were made so far against over $8 billion commitments for various projects.

On Tuesday, Pakistan apprised the international donors’ community that it has received $2.8 billion so far against the $11 billion pledges made about one-and-a-half years ago.

Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema shared the numbers during the 4th meeting of the International Partners Support Group (IPSG), according to a press statement. The minister said that against the $11 billion pledges made at the “International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan” held in Geneva, $2.8 billion were disbursed up to April 2024.

Pakistan had knocked the doors of the world community after the 2022 flash floods caused unprecedented damages. The United Nations-led damage and need assessment report had estimated the cost of reconstruction of the flood-affected areas at $16.3 billion but the country received $11 billion pledges that, too, were not the new commitments. The majority of the lenders had indicated their existing financing pipelines to Pakistan as pledges for the flood victims.

The Support Group meeting marked almost two years since the devastating floods of 2022, aiming to review the progress of flood recovery and realign efforts for a resilient Pakistan.

Compared to the massive needs, a small amount has actually been spent on the ground, as out of $2.8 billion, $1.35 billion were in fact disbursed for non-flood purposes. The then-finance minister Ishaq Dar had said that almost 90% of the pledges made by the international community at the Geneva conference for flood-hit Pakistan were project loans that will be disbursed over the next three years.

The highest amount of the project loans, $4.2 billion, had been committed by the Islamic Development Bank. However, so far, the IDB disbursed $65 million in project financing and $200 million against the oil facility.

The Asian Development Bank had committed $500 million but so far only $98 million has been disbursed by the regional lender. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank had also promised $1 billion but has so far given $250 million in non-flood budget support.

The World Bank committed $2 billion and has so far released nearly $1.1 billion –the highest disbursement by any lender. The World Bank’s role had remained commendable, as it is the only international creditor that swiftly planned and approved flood-related schemes being implemented in Balochistan and Sindh –the two worst affected provinces. The WB’s country office has also built a transparent mechanism to track the development in the housing sector in Sindh where the lender has given funds for the reconstruction of the homes.

The Saudi Development Fund had pledged $1 billion in loan, which it has given in the shape of oil financing and is part of the $2.8 billion disbursements.

The Paris Club and the European Union have also released $65 million against the Geneva pledges, mostly in the shape of the grants. The United States also released $61 million in grants.

Pakistan’s foreign inflows have been slowing down due to weak economic conditions despite the availability of the International Monetary Fund umbrella. For the next fiscal year, the government is aiming at receiving a total $6.1 billion in bilateral and multilateral lending but its numbers are not crossing $5.4 billion so far.

The Economic Affairs Ministry said that the representatives from bilateral and multilateral development partners, including ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Norway, Australia, and diplomats from Germany, China, the UAE, South Korea, the US, Qatar, Turkey, Netherlands, Russia, Japan, France, Switzerland, as well as officials from the Canadian and British high commissions, participated in the Support Group meeting.

Representatives from various international organisations such as the UNDP, the World Bank, the ADB, the IMF, the AIIB, the UNRC, the EU, KfW, UNICEF, IsDB, WFP, AICS, and USAID were also present.

Source: The Express Tribune

 

[hassan918]

There will be another monsoon season coming in a few weeks time. I am not sure if we are ready to tackle it effectively again this year.

 

[hassan918]

PM Shehbaz forms high-level committee for tackling monsoon emergencies​

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday formed a high-level committee to handle potential emergencies during the upcoming monsoon season.

A day ago, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) activated its emergency centre in anticipation of rain in northern areas and Punjab.

The action was taken as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted “vigorous” monsoon activity in the upper and central parts of the country during the week.

Chairing a review meeting to address the monsoon forecast and potential emergencies, the prime minister decided to personally supervise the response to any flood situations during the monsoon.

PM Shehbaz emphasised integrating advanced monsoon information into national broadcasts, stressing the regular dissemination of weather updates to farmers.

He assured full support to farmers during emergencies, emphasising the need for immediate assistance in such situations.

The premier instructed all relevant institutions to remain on high alert during the monsoon and directed the NDMA to support all provincial governments and related agencies.

The prime minister directed that advance information about the monsoon be disseminated to people in areas at risk of any emergency during the season.

He stressed that farmers and residents located near rivers and canals should be updated daily through the media and other information sources.

PM Shehbaz forms high-level committee for tackling monsoon emergencies

Decides to personally supervise the response to any flood situations during the monsoon.

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