America will be our partner in climate change, Masood Khan

Washington (Sabah News) Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has said that Pakistan is suffering the consequences of the worst disaster caused by climate change and it needs the urgent help of the international community. Our needs are dire. He said that there is a misconception that the two phases of relief and rehabilitation have ended. They have not ended. The high representative of Pakistan has expressed this hope during his interview given to the famous American media organization Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on the occasion of the international conference in Geneva regarding Pakistan. That with the leadership of the United Nations and its Secretary General and with the help of states like the United States, Pakistan will get the required financial support during the Geneva Conference. He said that we are hopeful that we will be able to secure commitments for substantial financial assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation. We need this aid over the next three years to build the infrastructure to cope with climate change and to protect what we already have. While thanking America, he said that he expects America to play a role in three aspects. First, there is the direct contribution of the United States towards rehabilitation and reconstruction. We hope that the United States will announce substantial support for our efforts in Geneva. Second, the United States will use its influence with other governments and international financial institutions. And SWIM, America will continue to be our partner in efforts to combat climate change. Speaking about the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at the recently held COP 27, he said that the establishment of this fund is an achievement in itself but the fund needs donations. The main objective of this fund is to help potentially affected countries like Pakistan to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and invest in it. The Pakistani ambassador said that we need the international community for a Loss and Damage Fund. Masood Khan said that we have mobilized all our resources but we need the help of the international community especially for this year.