UNSG says reconstruction of flood-hit areas in Pakistan 'top priority'

Bilawal calls for urgent operationalisation of 'loss and damage' fund

United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres on Thursday said that “resilient reconstruction” of flood-hit areas in Pakistan was his “top priority” as he reaffirmed “full support” of the UN for ongoing humanitarian work in the country.

The UNSG made these remarks during his meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the sidelines of the UN's ministerial conference of G-77 and China being held in New York, US.

Bilawal met Guterres and thanked him for his support to Pakistan after this year's devastating floods. He also appreciated the UNSG as he will be co-hosting the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva on January 9, 2023.

Met today with @antonioguterres UNSG @UN & thanked him for massive support to 🇵🇰 after devastating floods & for co-hosting Int. Conf. on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva on 09 January 2023. Appreciate the kind words on our convening of sp. Ministerial Conf. of G-77 & China. pic.twitter.com/OlP8wRnMCE

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 16, 2022

During the meeting, the FM sought the UN’s continued cooperation to secure the participation of key donors, development institutions and the private sector in the conference to encourage them to support Pakistan’s comprehensive plan and specific project proposals.

Read Bilawal hits back at India for calling Pakistan 'epicenter of terrorism'

The secretary-general also appreciated the country’s timely initiative to convene a special ministerial conference of the G-77 and China to work towards overcoming the challenges facing developing countries.

'Urgent operationalisation of loss & damage fund'

Earlier, in his speech at the ministerial conference of G-77 and China, FM Bilawal called for urgent operationalisation of the “loss and damage” fund.

The minister convened and chaired the ministerial conference on 'Achieving the SDGs: Addressing Present Challenges and Building Resilience Against Future Crises' at the UN headquarters in New York and delivered a speech covering wide-ranging issues facing Pakistan and the region.

In a series of tweets, Bilawal said that at the meeting, he highlighted that developing countries are suffering disproportionately from multiple crises.

I convened & chaired today @UN Ministerial Conf. of G77 & China on “Achieving the SDGs:Addressing Present Challenges and Building Resilience Against Future Crises”. In opening remarks I highlighted that the developing countries suffered disproportionately from multiple crises 1/7 pic.twitter.com/fxST0SGsPZ

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 16, 2022

He said that COVID-19, supply chain disruptions, spiraling prices, depreciating currencies, climate-induced disasters as well as geopolitical tensions, such as, the Ukraine war and its accompanying restrictions have disproportionately impacted developing countries.

The foreign minister proposed "several emergency measures and systemic reforms to revive the economies of developing countries such as the reform of the international financial architecture (as proposed by UNSG), including a multilateral mechanism for sustainable debt management".

Further, he called for the implementation of the climate change agenda and commitments in accordance with the principle of equity - common but differentiated responsibilities based on respective capabilities.

Read More Bilawal urges conflict prevention in UNSC speech

Bilawal stressed the need for rapid deployment of sustainable infrastructure, including energy, transportation, housing, manufacturing and agriculture, in order to transition to a sustainable global economy.

He welcomed initiatives, such as, China’s Belt and Road Initiative and G-7’s Global Infrastructure Initiative.

According to Bilawal, the conference is expected to endorse many of the chair’s proposals in its "outcome document".

The adaptation of this strategy document will assist G-77 in securing tangible results in forthcoming conferences, such as, the SDG Summit in September 2023, CoP28 next November in Dubai and Summit of the Future in 2024, said the foreign minister.

Bilawal had arrived in New York on December 14 on a seven-day visit for meetings with the UN, high-level government officials, congressional leaders, Pakistani-American businessmen, and community members.