A further ten million euros in relief for Pakistan’s flood victims were announced by Germany on Friday. The statement was made by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at a joint press conference on Friday in Berlin.
She said Pakistan was the most seriously affected country by climate change and expressed compassion for the families suffering as a result of the devastating floods.
The ongoing destruction in Pakistan, according to the foreign minister of Germany, should serve as a warning to everyone about the dire effects of climate change.
“Pakistan is one of the hardest hit countries and pays a high price for global CAT emissions this is why we will work with all our energies at Cop 27 to achieve a fair distribution of the cost of climate change and the issue of loss and damage,” she highlighted.
Regarding bilateral ties, she stated that Germany wants to expand its economic ties with Pakistan. She claimed that German businesses are eager to make investments in Pakistan, especially in infrastructure projects.
Pleasure meeting my German counter part @ABaerbock in Berlin. issues of bilat. interest, floods, cooperation on climate, green energy & enhancing econ. ties discussed. Grateful for
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 7, 2022flood relief assistance. today’s announcement of addl. € 10 mil. Taking total to € 60 mil +. pic.twitter.com/o9HpHcrciH
The minister also recognized Pakistan’s valuable contribution to regional stability, particularly in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan is a key player in maintaining regional stability, especially with regard to Afghanistan.
“It would not have been able to remove so many Afghans from the nation without you as our partner. However, our collective efforts have made it possible for hundreds of Afghans to leave the nation and go easily to safer locations, she continued.
Speaking on the occasion, Bilawal called for translating the decades of goodwill and cooperation between Pakistan and Germany into synergetic partnership for benefit of the two peoples.
He claimed that one third of Pakistan was under water during the most recent floods, making the situation a climate catastrophe that is impossible to describe in words.
According to the minister, more than a million homes were devastated by the floods, and as a result, a food crisis is soon to follow.
He did, however, caution that if the economic effects of the natural disaster were not handled, Pakistan’s concerns about food security in the wake of the floods could worsen.
“We are grateful for the German assistance. But I want to get justice for my people as the UN says this is a question of justice. Pakistan produces less than 1pc of the global carbon footprint but we are among the 10 most climate-stressed countries on the planet and this is unfair that these 33m people are paying in the form of their lives and livelihoods,” Bilawal noted.
He asserted that Pakistan now required its own “green politics and green revolution.”
In his remarks on the Afghan problem, Bilawal urged the international community to cooperate in order to aid the Afghan people who are dealing with an economic collapse and its knock-on effects.
At the same time, he continued, we also want the Afghan government to respond to the community’s expectations for respect for human rights, inclusivity, and effective action against terrorism.
Regarding Pak-German relations, he expressed confidence that the two nations’ shared aim to strengthen their bilateral ties will result in benefits for both.
He also highlighted the brutalities faced by the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir.
