Pakistan: Donors at an international conference in Geneva have pledged to give more than $9 billion to help it rebuild following last year’s devastating floods in Pakistan.
The country seeks international assistance to cover around half of a total $16.3 billion recovery bill. Prime Minister Mr. Shehbaz Sharif and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres kicked off the one-day conference, attended by officials from nearly 40 other countries as well as private donors and international financial institutions.
The unprecedented floods caused by melting glaciers and record monsoon rains last year affected more than 33 million Pakistanis, killing more than 1,700 people and pushing about nine million others into poverty, according to the UN. Thousands of people are still living in open areas, tents and makeshift homes in Sindh and Balochistan, the two worst-hit provinces, with stagnant water still present in many areas.
Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, the deputy foreign minister of Pakistan, stated that the final tally exceeded the target set by the international community. The pledges come while Pakistan is still negotiating the terms of the next instalment of a global bailout.
“I think the message from the world is clear: the world will stand by those who go through any national calamity,” Ms. Khar added.
Some of the largest funders were Saudi Arabia, the World Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank. The European Union, the US, China and France also made contributions. It came after a request for significant funding made by UN Secretary-General to aid Pakistan in recovering from a “climate disaster of monumental scale.”
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