Pak, Switzerland sign MoU for collaboration against climate change

NATHIAGALI, Jul 08 (DNA): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on
Saturday termed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between Pakistan and Switzerland over disaster management as a vital
step that would promote cooperation between the two countries to harness
technology and expertise in future to tackle the natural catastrophe
jointly.

Addressing the MoU signing ceremony, the prime minister said that they
looked forward for the Swiss cooperation in terms of getting an advanced
warning system and other gadgets to secure Pakistan as much as possible
from natural disasters.

He reiterated that Pakistan was facing the impacts of global climate
change, despite the fact that the country had very little carbon
footprints.

The prime minister also expressed that they wanted to further expand
bilateral ties with Switzerland in diverse fields including the tourism
sector as Pakistan was blessed with natural beauty.

Appreciating the Swiss foreign minister’s remarks about the peace in the
region, the prime minister said that it was important to maintain peace
in this part of the world and that Switzerland could play the role of
catalyst to promote peace in the region.

He said that Pakistan liked to promote progress, and prosperity,
eradicate unemployment, and poverty, and enhance education, IT,
industry, women empowerment, and agriculture for the well-being of the
people.

The other side, he said, should also realize it. Pakistan could not
afford tension in the region nor would like to waste its resources, they
must commit their resources to the development of the country, he
stressed.

The prime minister reiterated that there could be no lasting peace in
this part of the world till their issues including Kashmir were
resolved.

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis
said that signing the MoU between the two countries was vital for
collaboration against climate change.

He said Pakistan was rich in cultural heritage and breathtaking
landscapes, but it had become prone to natural disasters, resulting in
last year’s floods, displacement of people with wide destruction.

The Swiss minister said these disasters required an urgent need for
international cooperation to mitigate the risks associated with the
natural catastrophes.

Extending his government’s cooperation in this regard, he reaffirmed to
further strengthen the bilateral ties and to pool their resources in
this field.

He further highlighted the joint efforts between the two countries
during the years 2010 and 2022 when the devastating floods struck
Pakistan, adding the Swiss government swiftly provided emergency aid and
supported the affected people.

The foreign minister further said that they were ready to embark on the
new challenges in the field of disaster management which went beyond the
borders and stressed that these required global unity and collateral
efforts.

Earlier, the prime minister witnessed the signing of the MoU between the
two countries by the visiting Swiss foreign minister and Chairman
National Disaster Management Authority Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik to
cooperate in the field of natural disasters. Minister for Climate Change
Sherry Rehman, ministers, NDMA chairman and relevant authorities were
present on the occasion.

The document between the two countries will also prove as a milestone in
bringing the National Disaster Management at par with the international
standards under the vision of the prime minister.

It will also help promote cooperation between Pakistan and Switzerland
in forecasting natural disasters, their impacts, swift response and
rehabilitation measures. DNA

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