United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Tom Fletcher, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House today.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
The Prime Minister appreciated the invaluable humanitarian work being undertaken by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in responding to complex emergencies across the world. He acknowledged OCHA's continued support to Pakistan, particularly during the devastating floods of 2022, and thanked the organization for its assistance in strengthening the country's disaster response efforts.
The Prime Minister noted that Pakistan's national and provincial disaster management institutions had significantly enhanced their capacity to respond to climate-induced disasters over the years. He emphasized, however, that the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events underscored the need for greater preparedness, resilience, and closer coordination among all stakeholders at the national, regional, and international levels.
Mr. Tom Fletcher thanked the Prime Minister for receiving him and appreciated the longstanding partnership and close cooperation between Pakistan and OCHA. He also commended the Prime Minister's efforts to promote regional peace and stability, noting that sustainable peace was essential to addressing the humanitarian and economic consequences of conflicts.
During the meeting, Mr. Fletcher briefed the Prime Minister on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the challenges being faced by OCHA in delivering urgently needed assistance to the affected population. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan's continued support to OCHA's humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to working closely with the United Nations and OCHA to strengthen global humanitarian cooperation, enhance disaster preparedness, and support relief efforts for vulnerable communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters.
