Ansar Bhatti

ISLAMABAD, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday interacted with members of the diplomatic community in Islamabad to sensitize them about the damages caused by floods across the country.

8 diplomatic representatives including the UAE, France, Canada, Turkey, USA, UK, UN, Kuwait spoke on the occasion and assured the prime minister that they will take up this issue with their respective headquarters.

The Acting Ambassador of France Yves Manville while speaking on the occasion assured the prime minister that he will talk to his headquarters and inform them about the situation on ground. He also congratulated the new designated ambassador to France Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, who was there along with the Foreign Secretary and several ministers.

As part of efforts to mobilize all resources, the prime minister met Islamabad-based ambassadors, high commissioners & senior members of diplomatic corps to sensitize them about scale of human tragedy,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

During the meeting, the representatives of the Economic Affairs Division and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) briefed about current status of the challenge and response. The prime minister said that the ongoing rain spell had caused devastation across the country. The losses, though yet to be documented, are comparable to the flash floods of 2010, he added.

He thanked the international community for their sympathies, condolences and pledges of support. “Together we will build back better,” he commented.

According to the PM Office, the international organizations and financial institutions had announced an immediate assistance of more than $500 million for the flood victims on the prime minister’s appeal. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held a meeting with international donors to sensitize them about the prevailing situation.

The representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, international financial institutions, development partners and donors attended the meeting. The officials of China, the United States and the European Union, agencies of the United Nations and World Health Organization also part of the meeting.