From Sandra Johnson
WASHINGTON: The visit to the US was fruitful, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, adding that the purpose of the visit was to help the flood victims in Pakistan. He also vowed that a lot of work has to be done for them.
“At this critical time, the demand for pre-elections is like playing with the lives of the flood victims,” he said, addressing a press conference in Washington on Thursday.
“The top priority is to aid flood victims; politics is a distant second. Nothing that we do for the flood evacuees is adequate.”
He said the United Nations Secretary-General put the flood issue on top of the agenda during the UN session. He expressed gratitude to the world community for the help they offered to Pakistan for the flood victims.
The minister said, “We have not reached the stage of reconstruction and rebuilding. We are still in the phase of relief and rescue.”
“You must have witnessed improvement in the country’s foreign affairs during the six months of our government. Also, you must witness a clear difference between today’s Pakistan and what it was six months ago,” Bilawal noted.
Bilawal said Pakistan faces shortage of food as crops have been destroyed by floods. Pakistan faced massive flooding right after the country inked an agreement with the IMF, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war have triggered price hike around the globe, he said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a meeting with Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington DC has lauded the United States’ assistance for flood relief, saying that magnitude of the disaster necessitated sustained and long-term cooperation.
The Foreign Minister shared with Chairman Menendez impact of the devastation caused by floods. He underscored that it was a compound crisis with humanitarian, health, food security and economic dimensions.
He urged Chairman Menendez’s personal leadership in mobilising support in the U.S. Congress, which historically had stood by the people of Pakistan during such natural disasters.
The Foreign Minister said that the flood crisis provided an opportunity to Pakistan to build back better, greener and resilient infrastructure. Given the huge investment required, Pakistan viewed the US government and private sector as important partners in this task.
Chairman Menendez conveyed his condolences and sympathies to the people and the government of Pakistan on the devastation caused by the floods.
He assured of his support in enabling Pakistan to overcome this challenge. He said the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and the US was an important milestone.
Both countries had achieved a lot working together. Chairman Menendez praised the Pakistani diaspora’s role in strengthening Pakistan-US ties. He underscored the importance of Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s regular engagement with the Foreign Minister.
Both sides also discussed peace and stability in the region including Afghanistan, Indian repression in IIOJK and its illegal actions of August 5, 2019.
