Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva on Jan. 9

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will co-host together with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva on Jan. 9, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

“The conference will serve as a platform to marshal international support for the people and government of Pakistan to build back better in a resilient manner after the recent devastating floods as the country transitions from the rescue-and-relief phase towards the monumental task of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction,” the ministry said in a statement.

Pakistan will present the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF) at the conference and seek international support and long-term partnerships for its implementation, it said.

Heads of state and government, ministers and high-level representatives from several countries and international financial institutions, foundations and funds as well as from international development organizations, the private sector, civil society and international non-governmental organizations are expected to participate in the conference, according to the statement.

Torrential rains and devastating floods left a third of Pakistan under water last year aside from killing nearly 1,700 people.

Over 33 million people, mainly in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, were affected by the floods, with hundreds of thousands of homes, buildings, bridges, schools and roads washed away.

A post-disaster needs assessment conducted by the government and development partners, including the Asian Development Bank, estimated total damage and losses at more than $30 billion.