Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, addressing the National Assembly during Wednesday’s session. Photo: X
ISLAMABAD:
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the Senate on Friday that more than 80 percent of the international pledges made during the 2022 floods were in the form of soft loans rather than grants.
Responding to questions during Question Time, the minister said Pakistan ultimately received less than 50 percent of the total pledged amount, with most commitments attached to conditions and staggered disbursement frames.
The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided that the losses caused by the recent natural disasters would be covered domestically, he said.
He said the federal and Punjab governments were compensating the affected families from national resources.
The minister said Pakistan had entered into 16 international climate-related agreements since 1990. These arrangements covered global commitments on climate adaptation, mitigation, environmental protection and building resilience, he said.
Regarding international financing mechanisms, he said that Pakistan is currently engaged in three major programs including Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Adaptation Fund Projects.
Responding to another question, he said climate change was a global crisis that required global attention and Pakistan would continue to highlight its vulnerabilities at all diplomatic forums.
