PM urges UN to strengthen efforts against climate threats

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged the United Nations (UN) to step up international cooperation and strengthen global preparedness to confront the growing threat of climate-induced disasters, warning that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and devastating.

Talking to Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, the prime minister stressed that the escalating impacts of climate change demanded greater resilience and closer coordination among national, regional and international stakeholders.

Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability, he noted that the country remains among those hardest hit by climate change despite contributing only a tiny share of global greenhouse gas emissions.

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Recalling the devastating 2022 floods that submerged nearly one-third of Pakistan, claimed more than 1,700 lives and affected around 33 million people, the prime minister thanked the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for its timely support.

He said the organisation had played a pivotal role in relief operations and helped strengthen Pakistan’s disaster response capacity.

He added that Pakistan’s national and provincial disaster management institutions had significantly enhanced their preparedness and response capabilities to deal with climate-related emergencies in recent years.

Fletcher, who is on a visit to Pakistan, thanked the prime minister for the meeting and praised the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and OCHA, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The UN official also commended Shehbaz’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability, observing that sustainable peace is indispensable for addressing the humanitarian and economic fallout of conflicts.

The meeting also reviewed humanitarian crises beyond Pakistan’s borders. Fletcher briefed the prime minister on the worsening situation in Gaza, outlining the immense challenges OCHA faces in delivering life-saving assistance to civilians in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to humanitarian cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz pledged to continue working closely with the UN and OCHA to bolster disaster preparedness, strengthen relief mechanisms and support communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters.

Fletcher also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support for OCHA’s humanitarian operations in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister’s Adviser Syed Tauqir Shah, National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026