ISLAMABAD
Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said the support from Geneva conference will be spent to deal with climate changes and rehabilitation of flood affectees.
She said this during weekly press briefing here Friday.
She held Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday for a two-day visit at the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
She observed Prime Minister has held meetings with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum. During these meetings the leaders reviewed bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE; and agreed to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation especially in the areas of trade, investment and energy.
She underlined the two sides agreed to deepen bilateral investment cooperation, stimulate partnerships and enable investment integration opportunities. Today, the Prime Minister is meeting Emirati entrepreneurs and investors to explore opportunities to enhance trade and investment. He returns home later today.
She stated International Conference on Resilient Pakistan was , held in Geneva on 9th January 2023 and co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations.
The International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan brought together the international community to reaffirm solidarity with the flood affected people of Pakistan.There was high-level representation from a large number of countries and prominent international financial and development institutions. We are particularly grateful for the UN Secretary-General’s presence at the Conference, as the co-host, and becoming the voice of the flood affected people of Pakistan, she observed.
At the conference, the Government of Pakistan presented its vision, plans and priorities for the post-flood recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the form of the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, And Reconstruction Framework Pakistan (4RF). Delegations reaffirmed their support for immediate relief efforts and extended their financial support for resilient recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
The conference identified the principles and action plan for Pakistan’s resilient recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Bilateral and multilateral partners committed financial support of over US$ 9.5 billion for realization of the objectives and priority areas outlined in 4RF. A number of delegations made further announcements for in-kind support. We are grateful to all our partners for the generous peldges they made at the Conference, she underscored.
Condemning the terrorist act in the strongest possible terms, the Foreign Minister underscored that terrorism posed a common threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan and required a collective response. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in countering the scourge of terrorism and underlined our deep commitment to work with Afghanistan towards regional peace and stability.
On the upcoming engagements — Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs will attend the 53rd Annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place in Davos, Switzerland from 16-20 January. Pakistan is a regular participant in WEF meetings. At theForum, Pakistan will present its perspective on issues of global economic importance.
The Foreign Minister and the Minister of State will also meet participating dignitaries including political leaders, corporate executives, heads of international organizations, and leading media and civil society personalities.
She held Pakistan will continue to support Kashmiris at every level. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed matter. International community should play its role in its resolution.
The occupying authorities introduced new land lease rules, depriving the local farmers, hoteliers, and businessmen of their long-held lands on lease. The local authorities have also intensified their campaign to seal or attach the properties of activists and resistance leaders.
Under the amended Land Revenue Act non-Kashmiris can purchase agricultural land for commercial and other non-agricultural purposes. The Indian Army has been given sweeping powers to take possession of agricultural land and residential areas in any part of IIOJK, after declaring them as “strategic”. Reportedly over 430,000 Kanals of land are already under illegal possession of the Indian military and paramilitary forces.
These developments are yet another manifestation of India’s colonial-settler mindset and its designs to expand control over Kashmiri lands, which is a clear violation of International Law and the obligations of the occupying power towards occupied lands.
Pakistan will continue to extend unstinted moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their quest for self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
To a question she said Rosevelt hotel in New York is private property. PIA will offer better comment on it.
She held that foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and state minister Hina Rabbani Khar will participate in International Economic Forum.
