Development must receive same urgency as security: PM

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 25 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for timely debt relief, affordable long-term financing and a stronger voice for developing countries in global financial institutions, saying that development must receive the same urgency as security.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister said Pakistan contributes less than one per cent of global emissions, yet repeatedly bears the horrific repercussions of climate change.

“Developed countries must, therefore, honour their climate-finance commitments without delay, fund loss and damage speedily, and ensure support for adaptation and resilience,” he said.

The prime minister also paid tribute to Chinese President Xi Jinping for spearheading the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative.

He said these initiatives could provide pillars on which “we can surely build a shared future for mankind”.

As regards Pakistan’s economy, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the country’s economic revival remained a defining responsibility of his government and a mission close to his heart.

He said that through difficult and long-overdue structural reforms and stringent fiscal discipline, the government had restored macro-economic stability and begun the journey towards sustainable and inclusive growth.

The prime minister said Pakistan was modernizing agriculture and industry, developing mineral resources and digitalizing its economy.

He said the country was also equipping its youth with modern artificial intelligence and information technology skills.

He said Pakistan was opening new pathways with China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as well as with the Gulf, Central Asia and beyond.