BERLIN:
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday thanked the German government for helping flood victims in Pakistan and stressed that Pakistan is turning to Europe’s economic power on the issue of the adverse effects of climate change.
Speaking at a joint press conference following talks with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, in Berlin, the foreign minister said the total amount of aid from Germany had reached 60 million euros for this “we are incredibly grateful to the German people and the government”. ”.
He said he had a positive meeting with the German Foreign Minister and discussed issues related to climate change, floods in Pakistan, green energy and ways to boost bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Bilawal said Pakistan had less than 1% of the global carbon footprint, but the country was among the most climate-affected countries in the world. “I want justice for my people,” said Bilawal, flanked by Foreign Minister Baerbock.
He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) had already warned of a second disaster following the floods in the form of diseases, adding that “we have concerns about food security, while the economic consequences of this tragedy will continue to worsen if we are unable to respond to it”.
The minister said that Germany was the engine of European economy and politics, “our bilateral relations are therefore of crucial importance”. He added: “We seek lasting solutions for global peace and security. Decades of goodwill and cooperation must translate into deeper collaboration.
He told reporters that since his last meeting with the German minister, the realities on the ground in Pakistan had fundamentally changed due to “the weather event of biblical proportions”. After the devastation of the floods, he added, Pakistan was yearning to rebuild in a greener and more climate-resilient way.
He said he believed that the mutual desire to deepen relations would prove to be a win-win for both countries. “We are having good discussions on ways to improve our collaboration in trade, investment, higher education, technology and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
“We have a large Pakistani community in Germany which contributes positively to German society. It is a solid bridge between the two countries. Germany is one of our main trading partners. Trade increases. GSP+ [Generalised Scheme of Preference-Plus] status was mutually beneficial. »
He urged the international community to help the Afghan people avoid humanitarian tragedy and economic collapse. He also highlighted the serious human rights violations in illegally Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and said the alarming situation posed risks to regional peace and stability.
The German minister on the occasion said that Pakistan can count on the support of the German people and government. Pakistan can continue to count on our solidarity. I look forward to continuing the talks and engagements with you. Thank you for coming to Berlin today,” she added.
On the situation in Ukraine, Baerbock said every vote will count next week when the United Nations General Assembly meets to vote on a resolution against Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories. Expressing concern, Bilawal said Pakistan wanted “dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the issue”.
On the issue of Kashmir, the German minister said that she truly believed that every country in the world had a role to play in resolving conflicts. “It is our responsibility to look to other regions where the situation is tense. We support the commitment of the UN to find peaceful solutions.”
Later, Foreign Minister Bilawal visited the Pakistan Embassy and inaugurated the Digital Tourism Center. He appreciated the process of promoting the heritage and tourist sites of Pakistan through augmented and virtual reality.
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