DUBAI/ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday stressed the need to immediately operationalize the Loss & Damage Fund, ensuring its utilization on merit to cope with the issues of climate change.
He said the utilisation of Fund should not be linked with the development funds and loans from multilateral financial entities, but the funding should be additional and tangible.
The prime minister, in an interview with CNN on the sidelines of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP28, said that currently Pakistan’s focus was on transformation from the coal-based power plants to renewable energy projects to contribute towards minimizing the climate change impacts in the region and beyond.
“This is the area which could attract interest of countries here in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the settled economies and democracies on the Western side, so it is an opportunity for all of them and all of us,” he added. He said the climate change was no more a fashionable point to discuss as it hit Pakistan very hard last year.
The prime minister pointed out that Pakistan was not primarily responsible for contributing to the climate disaster in which the country’s two provinces, Sindh and Balochistan, faced historical devastation. “Everyone knows who have been contributing in the last one century so it is more of a question of an honest conversation rather than passing judgment on countries and economies,” he remarked. Therefore, he said, the responsibility shown by the wealthy nations themselves would be a welcome step.
To a question whether the Fund should be operationalized through a United Nation’s framework, the prime minister said, “If we wait for a UN framework, it will take years of years. Therefore, initially it is possible to operationalize it under the World Bank and other multilateral entities.”
Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday reiterated the government’s commitment to further strengthen the HIV response to ensure an AIDS-free Pakistan. “Let us synergize our efforts to achieve our shared goal of an AIDS-free Pakistan. Together, we can build a future where healthcare is a right for everyone, and no one is left behind,” the prime minister said in his message on the occasion of the World AIDS Day 2023.
He said HIV/AIDS was not only a health issue but had grave socio-economic implications. “Sadly, as we reflect on the prevailing HIV epidemic in Pakistan, we see a gloomy picture – wide gaps in HIV testing and treatment coverage. Let us ponder for a minute and reflect: are we reaching those who need to be reached, are we testing those who need to be tested and are we strategically looking in the right direction.” He said years of collective efforts, resources and programming had been just not enough to halt the epidemic trajectory.
The prime minister said the critical barriers and challenges for impactful programming continued to persist. “This reality compels us to intensify our commitment and resolve to combat the HIV epidemic with innovative, impactful and sustainable programming. The government is cognizant of the need for greater stewardship and dedicated to prioritizing both the political and financial aspects of HIV prevention.”
He said one of the primary objectives was to address the gaps within the service cascade, especially in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission. “By redoubling our efforts in this area, we aim to create a society where every child is born free from the burden of HIV. As we embrace new prevention tools, we understand the importance of swift and widespread implementation,” he said, adding, “It is our duty to ensure that these services reach every corner of our nation, leaving no room for disparities in healthcare access, particularly those segments of the society that are at the increased risk of HIV”.
The prime minister called upon all the partners engaged in the HIV response to join forces with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination to take timely action in safeguarding the well-being of our future generations. “Let us unite and collaborate, allowing the communities to lead the way in this pivotal national endeavor,” he remarked.