Pakistan, Switzerland agree on disaster control

Two sides also agree to collaborate in tourism promotion

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Switzerland on Saturday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bhurban, solidifying their commitment to foster cooperation in the disaster management domain.

The agreement was formally signed by Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who is on a visit to Pakistan, and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik.

The signing ceremony took place in Bhurban. Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, other ministers, and officials of relevant authorities were present.

During the ceremony, the prime minister expressed anticipation for Swiss cooperation in obtaining an advanced warning system and other essential devices to enhance Pakistan’s preparedness against natural disasters.

He emphasised the importance of securing the nation “to the maximum extent possible” through collaborative efforts with Switzerland.

He hailed the MoU between Pakistan and Switzerland on disaster management as a crucial step that would foster cooperation between the two nations, enabling them to utilise technology and expertise collaboratively in addressing natural calamities in the future.

Despite Pakistan’s minimal carbon emissions, the prime minister reaffirmed that the country was grappling with the consequences of global climate change.

PM Shehbaz expressed the desire to strengthen bilateral relations with Switzerland, particularly in areas such as tourism, owing to Pakistan’s abundant natural beauty.

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Commending the Swiss foreign minister’s remarks on regional peace, the prime minister highlighted the significance of maintaining peace in the region and recognised Switzerland’s potential to act as a catalyst in promoting peace.

Further, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting progress and prosperity and addressing issues such as unemployment, poverty, education, information technology, industry, women empowerment and agriculture for the betterment of its people.

He highlighted that it is crucial for the other side to recognise that Pakistan cannot afford regional tensions and is committed to utilising its resources for development.

He stressed the need for them to invest their resources in their own countries.

Additionally, the prime minister reiterated that the resolution of long-standing issues, including Kashmir, is vital for achieving lasting peace in the region.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance bilateral ties, especially in the areas of climate change, trade and investment, development cooperation, higher education and vocational training.

The prime minister thanked the Swiss government for providing support to Pakistan in the aftermath of last year’s devastating floods. He also appreciated the Swiss businesses’ approach to the resolution of issues and their work ethic and invited more Swiss companies to invest in Pakistan, particularly in the renewable energy and IT sectors.

The two sides also agreed to collaborate in tourism promotion, including eco-tourism and the development of related infrastructure, using both the government-to-government and business-to-business channels.

In this regard, it was agreed that a meeting would be convened shortly to further spell out modes of cooperation. APP