Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has thanked the donor countries for their unwavering support to Pakistan’s flood victims.
He also pledged transparency in the utilization of the amount being received for the rehabilitation of flood victims as he spoke to media here on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference along with several ministers here, the Prime Minister said that the world trusted the coalition government as they pledged millions of rupees. He was of the view that their political opponents resorted to negative propaganda
PM on pledges
The prime minister said that one billion dollars was pledged by Saudi Arabia, the biggest donor at the conference. China, Netherlands, Sweden, France, Canada, EU, and other friendly countries also helped Pakistan financially, the PM added. He said that had these donor countries cast suspicion on the transparency in utilizing these funds, they would not have pledged such a big amount. He said he assured the delegates at Geneva conference that the funds would be utilized in a transparent manner.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said over $9 billion were collected at the donors’ conference in Geneva. He was flanked by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman and other federal ministers. He thanked all friendly countries which pledged donations for flood-hit Pakistan.
The premier said that they have to revive agricultural and other sectors that have been devastated by the floods. PM Shehbaz commended the efforts of the finance and foreign ministers for convincing the global partners to help Pakistan in this hardship.
