On Friday, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar delivered a speech at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kakar highlighted the critical juncture in global history where leaders from around the world find themselves. He referred to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and escalating international tensions among major powers.
He stated, “We are witnessing the emergence of both old and new military and political alliances. Geopolitics is making a comeback when geo-economics should take precedence.”
The Prime Minister also discussed the significant commitments made during the climate summit held the previous day, all aimed at achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). He emphasized the need to translate these commitments into action, stressing the importance of redirecting unused special drawing rights toward development projects. Additionally, he called for solutions to address the financial challenges faced by 59 nations in dire economic straits.
Prime Minister Kakar underscored the multifaceted challenges that Pakistan faces, including food security, fiscal stability, and access to energy resources. He described these challenges as a stark demonstration of the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and the far-reaching effects of climate change on developing countries.
Furthermore, he expressed sorrow over Pakistan’s status as one of the nations most severely affected by climate change. He lamented the devastating floods of the previous year, which submerged a third of the country, resulting in the tragic loss of 1,700 lives, the displacement of over eight million people, extensive damage to critical infrastructure, and economic losses exceeding $30 billion.
He noted, “We are grateful for the commitment of over $10.5 billion for a comprehensive plan for recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction with a focus on resilience.”
Prime Minister Kakar assured the international community of the government’s unwavering dedication to rapidly restore economic stability, strengthen foreign exchange reserves and the national currency, boost domestic revenue generation, and encourage substantial domestic and international investments.
