ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday said that Pakistan, unfortunately, was on among the countries on the world map which could be hit by natural disasters like cloudbursts despite the fact that the country had hardly any contribution to greenhouse effects. During the year 2022, Pakistan had suffered more than any country in the world, he observed.
During a visit to the National Emergencies Operations Centre, the prime minister further said that the glacial melting due to heat waves also demanded the highest level of preparedness. “What happened in Swat in which precious lives were lost, engulfed the entire nation in a pall of gloom,” he said, and stressed that they should take an honest review of the incident, directing for a formulation of a comprehensive mechanism in collaboration with the provinces to prevent such occurrences in the future. The prime minister also directed for compilation of report in this regard.
The prime minister directed that weather warnings and calamity threats should be regularly issued through SMS and phone messages in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
He said that in view of India’s nefarious designs to weaponise water, the government had decided to enhance the water storage capacity in the country.
During his visit, the prime minister was given a briefing by NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik over the current monsoon season, the floods situation and the precautionary measures taken in this regard.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the prime minister extended his gratitude to the business community and investors who are fully supporting the government in the country’s development and prosperity as the Pakistan Stock Exchange 100 Index crossing the highest level of 127,000 for the first time on the first day of the new fiscal year. He expressed his satisfaction on the rising trend in the Stock Exchange, adding, “The new fiscal year has begun with good news and a significant development in the economic field, which is very propitious.”
The Stock Market 100 Index, he said, reaching its highest level was a manifestation of the fact that the confidence of the business community and investors in the country’s economy and government policies was strengthening and stabilising with each passing day.
“The new fiscal year will prove to be a milestone in the journey towards improving the country’s economy. The government is making efforts to promote the best business environment and provide more facilities to investors. I pay tribute to the government’s economic team for this success,” he said.
Separately, in a meeting with PMLN Parliamentary Leader in Senate Irfan Siddiqui, the prime minister said that no proposal was under consideration by the government to shut down or merge national institutions of academic, literary, historical, or cultural significance. Irfan Siddiqui informed the prime minister about the concerns among intellectuals, writers, poets and artists across the country regarding the recommendations of the government’s rightsizing committee to shut down or merge scholastic institutions.
Meanwhile the prime minister visited the Embassy of the Iran to sign the condolence book opened by the Iranian Mission to honour the martyrs and injured Iranians during the recent Israeli aggression against Iran. The prime minister expressed his deepest condolences to the people and government of Iran, while reaffirming Pakistan’s sympathy and solidarity with Tehran during this difficult time. Shehbaz was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and the foreign secretary. The prime minister was received by Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam and his senior colleagues. Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori also visited the Iranian embassy. He also registered his comments in the condolence book.
