Nithyagli: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan cannot afford to waste its resources on regional tensions, while also asking the other side to realize it.
He termed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster Management between Pakistan and Switzerland as an important step towards cooperation between the two countries to use technology and expertise to jointly deal with natural disasters in the future.
Addressing the signing ceremony of the MoU, the Prime Minister said that he is looking forward to Swiss cooperation for acquiring advanced warning systems and other equipment to make Pakistan as safe as possible from natural calamities.
The Prime Minister also said that he wants to further expand bilateral relations with Switzerland in various fields including the tourism sector as Pakistan is blessed with natural beauty.
Appreciating the remarks of the Swiss Foreign Minister about peace in the region, the Prime Minister said that it is important to maintain peace in this part of the world and Switzerland can play the role of a catalyst for promoting peace in the region. He said that Pakistan likes to promote development, prosperity, unemployment and poverty eradication and education, IT, industry, women empowerment and agriculture for the welfare of the people. He said that the other side should also realize this.
He said that Pakistan cannot afford tension in the region nor does it want to waste its resources, adding that it should devote its resources to the development of the country. The Prime Minister reiterated that there can be no lasting peace in this part of the world until its issues, including Kashmir, are resolved.
On this occasion, Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that the signing of the MoU between the two countries is very important for cooperation against climate change. He said that Pakistan is rich in cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes, but it has been prone to natural calamities, including last year’s floods, which led to massive displacement of people.
The Swiss minister said that there is an urgent need for international cooperation to reduce the risks associated with natural disasters in these disasters. He highlighted the joint efforts between the two countries during the years 2010 and 2022. When the devastating floods hit Pakistan, the Swiss government provided immediate emergency assistance and assistance to the affected people.
Earlier, the Prime Minister saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries for cooperation in natural disasters on behalf of Swiss Foreign Minister and National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, Ministers and concerned officials were present on the occasion. This document between the two countries will also be a milestone in bringing National Disaster Management in line with international standards under the vision of the Prime Minister. It will also help promote cooperation between Pakistan and Switzerland in natural disaster forecasting, their impact, immediate response and recovery measures.
Earlier, the Prime Minister received Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, accompanied by three members of Parliament. PM Office Media Wing said in a press release that he is on a bilateral visit to Pakistan from July 7 to 9 at the invitation of the Prime Minister. The two sides also agreed to cooperate in tourism promotion, including eco-tourism and related infrastructure development using both G2G and B2B channels. In this regard, it was agreed that a meeting would be convened soon to further develop the modalities of cooperation. Both sides also agreed on cooperation in disaster management, early warning and carbon market.
Also, Prime Minister Shehbaz tweeted on Saturday that the laptop scheme has indeed proved to be a game changer. “Under the current scheme, 100,000 laptops will be distributed to students in Pakistan in a phased manner. As in the past, transparency and merit will be the guiding principles in selecting the recipients,” he wrote.
In another tweet, the Prime Minister said that people like late Abdul Sattar Edhi truly reflected the moral values of the society and strengthened their faith in humanity. He paid tribute to late Edhi on his seventh death anniversary. He said that people like late Edhi worked for their cause with dedication and desire which later became a symbol of their support.
In a tweet posted in Urdu, the Prime Minister said that Abdul Sattar Edhi was one of those personalities who dedicated his life to the service of humanity and spent his entire life in struggle, passion and dedication to serve humanity.
