Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed that the government would utilise “every penny” of donations pledged at a donors’ conference in Geneva for prosperity and rehabilitation of flood-hit people.
His media talk comes after Pakistan raised $10 billion in pledges from donor countries in Geneva.
Flanked alongside the federal cabinet members, the premier began the press conference by highlighting that the Geneva conference proved to be a “success” for Pakistan.
“Be it bilateral or multinational donation, a sum of $9.7 billion is the total amount [that was pledged] and the Islamic Development Bank (ADB) held a major share of $4.2bn of the total financial commitments,” he said.
Giving a breakdown of the amount pledged at the conference, the prime minister said Saudi Arabia committed $1 billion followed by China $100m, Qatar $25m, Canada $18.6m, Denmark $3.8m, European Union €87m, France €380m, Germany €84m, Italy €23m and Azerbaijan $2m.
The premier said the amount pledged by “friendly countries” showed respect for Pakistan, adding the countries would never have committed the amount had there been reservations over financial irregularities.
He also heaped praise on Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his efforts in meeting foreign dignitaries and raising the case of Pakistan effectively.
The PM maintained that the world leaders trusted the incumbent coalition government, adding “it is now upon us to utilise the amount on infrastructural development and for the development of other important sectors.”
He also hailed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for his prospective plans to increase the deposit amount in the State of Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to $5bn.
He said the government would keep striving to help flood-hit people until they were relocated to their homes.
“It is now our turn to put in our blood and sweat in taking forward the mission for the rehabilitation of our people.”
