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The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Monday, the 1st April, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad
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Speaker, Convener SDGs and IPU President urge Parliamentarians from Asia-Pacific to support flood-ravaged Pakistan, during the inaugural of the 3rd IPU Seminar

Tuesday, 13th September, 2022

The primary session of the 3rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Regional Seminar on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals for Parliaments of Asia-Pacific was held at the Parliament House, Islamabad. The session was attended by the Parliamentarians from the IPU member states from the Asia Pacific Region.

Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Convener, National Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs while moderating the session said that the two-day moot was being held in a bid to sensitize the international community particularly Members countries of IPU about the dystopic climate-induced catastrophe in Pakistan. The climate breakdown in the form of record torrential rains and super floods across the country directly affected almost one-third population. The extent of damage was unimaginable as thousands had lost their lives; infrastructure, industry and agriculture were adversely hit. She stressed that Pakistan needed massive support from the international community to fight global climate change and fulfill its commitments pertaining to SDGs.

Mr. Duarte Pacheco, President, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Member of Parliament in Portugal, lauded the efforts extended by the Speaker to millions of distressed and distraught people of Pakistan in the wake of massive torrential rains and super floods. He appreciated the Speaker’s efforts in organizing the 3rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Seminar of Asia pacific region on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals. He termed that the event would hopefully prove pivotal in attracting the support of flood victims of the country.      

Raja Pervez Ashraf, Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan in his welcome remarks expressed his gratitude to the participants for honoring his call for immediate support for the flood-ravaged Pakistan. He mourned over the fact that the country had suffered losses in excess of 30 billion US dollars. It was almost impossible to undo the colossal damages alone. The international community had to step forward to help Pakistan in that grim hour of grief. He emphasized that Pakistan was not a contributor to carbon emissions, but it was among the most affected countries. He underscored that climate change was a global problem and requires a global solution. The recent calamity after CoVID-19 had badly hampered Pakistan’s ability to attain SDGs. Therefore, we need to enhance regional collaboration and develop close liaisons to address all impediments to the achievement of promised goals.