PTI to begin long march to Islamabad on October 28: Imran Khan

October 26, 2022

LAHORE: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has announced that his party’s long march towards Islamabad for the country’s “haqeeqi azadi” would commence from Lahore‘s Liberty Chowk on October 28, Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, flanked by the party’s top leadership, the former prime minister said the march will begin from the Liberty Chowk at 11am and he will lead it himself.

“This is our march for haqeeqi azaadi and it has no timeframe. We will reach Islamabad from the GT Road and the nation will come to Islamabad from across Pakistan.

“I am predicting this will be the biggest sea of people in the history of the country,” Imran claimed.

Going on, he clarified that the long march was “not politics” but a “war for the future of Pakistan.

“This is something way beyond politics, it is a war for freedom from these thieves that have been imposed over us. This jihad will decide where the country will go.”

Elaborating on the demands of the march, the former premier said that he only wanted one thing: “The decision of who will head the country belongs to the public.”

“We want that the people make the decision. Today, I am appealing to the entire nation that you will have to decide […] do we want to go on this way of becoming a free country or serve these thieves.”

In response to a question, he said that the protest would be peaceful. “We are not going to break the law or go into the Red Zone. Whatever will happen in Islamabad, it will be according to what the courts have permitted us.

“We have given instructions to everyone to remain peaceful and we will just show where the nation stands.”

At the outset of the press conference, the PTI chief said he had planned the march earlier. “We held a peaceful protest on May 25 but they inflicted violence on us. And if I had not called it off then the next day there really would’ve been discord and blood in the country,” he said.

“Hence, to save my country and prevent chaos, I called it off,” he added.

Imran went on to say that he wanted to clarify the purpose of the march because he was told that he was being irresponsible as the country was going through a tough time.

“I want to remind the nation that when we came to power in 2018, Pakistan was bankrupt and facing the biggest foreign deficit in history. Our reserves were around $9 billion, our trade deficit was three times more,” he said, giving an overview of his government’s economic performance.

Imran recalled that his government was toppled through a foreign conspiracy and thieves were imposed over the country. “And then, when we won the July by-elections, there was a rain of cases lodged against us. Some 24 FIRs (first information reports) were registered against me. Cases were made against all our top leadership.”

‘Arshad Sharif was threatened to retract from his stance’
The PTI chief said that journalists across Pakistan were facing the worst form of oppression today.

“The kind of injustices and restrictions they have imposed on the media, there is no example of it in any other democracy.

“But the most painful for the journalist community is what they did with Arshad Sharif. I haven’t seen an example like this in Pakistan,” he said.

The journalist was shot dead in Kenya in a case of what is being said “mistaken identity”. At a lawyer’s convention in Peshawar today, Imran said the killing was a “targetted attack”.

Talking about Sharif at the press conference in Lahore, the PTI chief said that everyone knew the journalist never compromised his conscience. “Everyone knows his family had two martyrs […] he was threatened to retract from his stance.

“Can there be any worse form of oppression compared to Arshad Sharif’s martyrdom? He went to Kenya because they knew what they were about to do,” he claimed, adding that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab governments would be building a monument to honour the slain journalist.

In response to a question, Imran said that political parties always solved problems through talks and that “doors are always open for backdoor channels”.

However, at the same time, the PTI chief contended that the government was against fresh elections because they feared that “despite their pet election commissioner” they won’t be able to win. “This is why they have now gone to the other side — disqualification.”

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified him in a “totally illegal and unconstitutional way” because “this match is not capable enough to be played now”.

“This is why they don’t want elections and now we have decided to go towards the long march,” Imran added.

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Dead body of slain journalist Arshad Sharif reaches Islamabad

Tanzeel Ahmed

October 26, 2022

ISLAMABAD: The flight carrying mortal remains of senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif reached Islamabad from Doha in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The family members of the slain journalist and a large number of people, including politicians and journalists, were present at the airport to receive the dead body of Arshad Sharif.

Arshad Sharif, was reportedly shot to death by Kenyan Police along the Nairobi-Magadi highway on Sunday in “mistaken identity case”.

According to Kenyan media, the journalist was fatally shot in the head by cops after allegedly violating a roadblock established to keep an eye on motor vehicles using the route.

The media, while quoting local police officials, said that they were directed to intercept a car involved in a carjacking in Nairobi in which a child was taken hostage, which was similar to the one Arshad Sharif and his driver were driving.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday decided to form a judicial commission to investigate the killing of senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

In a statement, the Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Prime Minister has decided to form a judicial commission headed by a High Court judge, in which the head of the commission will be able to include members from civil society and media.

She further added PM Shehbaz has taken this decision to determine the real facts pertaining to the killing of the late journalist.

Furthermore, the sources revealed that the Prime Minister has also issued instructions to the relevant authorities in this regard. It has been said that people who are trusted by Arshad Sharif’s family should be included in the commission.

The General Headquarters (GHQ) had written a letter to the Government of Pakistan (GOP) for the investigation of Arshad Sharif’s killing.

The GHQ demanded the government to take legal action against those involved in blaming the institution for the death of Arshad Sharif.

“An action should be taken in the light of the Constitution against those involved in blaming the institution,” it demanded.

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‘We are capable of responding back’: Farhan Saeed

Asifa Farhat

October 24, 2022

LAHORE: The singer-actor suggested the PCB boycott the World Cup 2023 in response and argued that the Indian team must realize that “their value is no longer the same”.

Farhan Saeed recently appeared on a television program for his upcoming film Tich Button. While most of the questions were about his film, host Waseem Badami teased the subject of the Indian cricket team refusing to come to Pakistan for next year’s Asia Cup and hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Saeed called their response “childish” and reminded the panel that it has been happening for quite a while.

The actor joined Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Tanvir Ahmed, Aadi Adeal and Mustafa Chaudhry as part of the promotions for his film and a healthy discussion on Pakistan’s upcoming cricket tournaments and matches ensued. Then came the topic of India’s decision to back out of next year’s Asia Cup. “If this is what they do and the World Cup takes place, then Pakistan should host a PSL here, the entire nation should go and see it, and boycott the World Cup because this is stupid and childish and has been happening for quite some time,” said Saeed.

The Mere Humsafar actor suggested that we need to respond, as suggested by Khan and Akmal. He urged the PCB to promote cricket and take a stand where needed. “I think we should we shouldn’t be scared of anyone at this point because if in the T20 World Cup the number one and number three batsmen are absent, that will be one dull tournament. So they should also realise by now that their value is no longer the same as the team that never lost a World Cup. We are capable of responding back so they should just back off a little,” said Saeed.

Shifting the focus to the former cricketers next to Saeed, Badami said that the ‘Sajni’ singer carries the sentiments of the people. Khan, the former batsman agreed with Saeed and said any cricket fan around the world would agree with them and their stance, which is that matches between India and Pakistan must take place, with both teams visiting the countries.

Indian cricket board’s Secretary Jay Shah ruled out the possibility of the Indian cricket team visiting Pakistan for the 50-over Asia Cup next year, saying that they had decided to hold the tournament at a neutral venue. “It’s the government that decides over the permission of our team visiting Pakistan, so we won’t comment on that but for the 2023 Asia Cup, it is decided that the tournament will be held at a neutral venue,” Shah, who is also the president of Asian Cricket Council, said.

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US repatriates 46 smuggled artifacts to Islamabad

Tanzeel Ahmed

October 24, 2022

ISLAMABAD: The US Government has repatriated 46 artifacts back to Pakistan, including the most notable $1.1 million Buddhapadha, that now fill the central space at the Islamabad Museum.

The Kushan period footprints of Buddha (Buddhapadha) were stolen from an unknown archaeological site in the Gandhara region of Pakistan in the 1980s, and smuggled to the United States.

A Japanese art dealer Tatsuzo Kaku was involved in smuggling the sculpture.

“The footprints of the Buddha were recovered by the Manhattan district attorney’s office in New York during the investigation and prosecution of a criminal case involving international smuggling and sale of stolen antiquities,” said Assistant Director Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) Dr Mehmoodul Hassan. He elaborated that the artifact was detected at an auction where it was put up for sale for an estimated $1.1 million.

Kushan period footprints of Buddha among antiquities now showcased at Islamabad Museum, say officials

He said the ancient region of Gandhara, Swat and Taxila were thickly dotted with Buddhist archaeological sites of 1st to 5th century CE.

“These sites are situated in the far-flung mountainous areas and subject to the clandestine excavations and cultural heritage artifact recovered by antique hunters are taken to the international antique markets through illicit means,” he added.

The new display showcased DOAM’s efforts through four years of patient diplomacy and bureaucratic challenges to get the valuable antiquities repatriated.

Dr Hassan said that after completion of the legal procedure the Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr handed over the second century CE Buddhapada to the consulate of Pakistan, New York at a repatriation ceremony.

After completion of all formalities, the footprints of Buddha along with 45 other specimens of Gandhara were restituted by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, National Heritage and Culture Division, Pakistan, on September 16, 2021, with the active support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The footprints (Buddhapadha) are made of green schist, explained Assistant Director DOAM Abdul Ghafoor Lone.

“These footprints are 116 centimetres wide and 90 centimetres high. The footprints are divided by Corinthian pilasters. The upper border is decorated with undulated garland which is atypical Gandharan style influenced by Graco-Roman architectural traditions,” Mr Lone added.

The decoration of the footprints consists of sacred symbols of Buddhism – symbols of three pronged triratna (three jewels) representing Buddha, his doctrine and his followers, he elaborated. “The symbol of dharmachakra (wheel of law) denotes Buddha’s doctrine and lotus flower symbolises Buddha,” he said.

Among other showstoppers are the several 1st century BC stone panels depicting the palace life, scenes of dancing devotees before Buddha’s enlightenment.

Besides Buddha’s relic caskets, equally striking pieces of rescued antiquity include bath trays, depicting Greek sea god – an art form that later inspired Buddhist stone structures, said Mr Lone.

“Antiquities are vital to modern society. They provide insight into human history. When shared with the public, they create inroads to learning about interesting and fascinating cultures of world,” said Director General Department of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abul Azeem.

The Buddhapadha is now on display in Islamabad Museum, Sir Syed Memorial Society building.

In his recent visit to the new display, US Ambassador Dr Donald Blome wrote in the comments register: “Thank you for preserving and caring for this remarkable collection, demonstrating the incredible riches of Pakistan’s heritage.”

The US government has also already handed over another consignment of 104 confiscated artifacts to the Pakistani authorities in the US.

Another 191 ancient treasures believed to have also been spirited out of Pakistan would be returned to the country after working through diplomatic and legal means.

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Twin cities among districts with highest number of child abuse cases

Our Correspondent

October 24, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been listed as districts with second and third highest numbers of child abuse cases among 10 districts of the country.

According to information shared by SAHIL, a non-governmental organisation working for child protection on its twitter handler, Kasur is on top of the list of child abuses in the country with 298 cases.

SAHIL report stated that 292 cases of child abuses were reported in the district of Rawalpindi and 247 in Islamabad even though the federal capital had a higher literacy rate and slightly more law-abiding citizens.

Sahil said in its findings that in the year 2021 out of the total 3,852 cases more than half — 52 per cent — had been reported from these 10 districts. After six years, Kasur is on the top with 298 cases.

It also reported that Faisalabad came in the fourth place with 237 cases followed by Gujranwala with 198 cases, Sialkot 186, Khairpur 152 and Lahore 150 cases.

As many as 120 cases of child abuse were reported in Okara and another 107 in Muzaffargarh.

The number of cases of child abuse reported by Sahil in 2021 were 2,000. Incidents of child sexual abuse increased by 14pc in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period the year before, the NGO had reported.

The organisation, which has worked on child protection against sexual abuse since 1996, blamed the coronavirus pandemic for the increase in the cases, arguing that children were home and more than 55pc of their abusers were acquaintances.

The situation was no better in the year 2018 when Sahil reported that cases of child abuse had increased by 11pc compared to 2017 with more than 10 children facing some form of abuse every day in Pakistan.

The NGO said 3,832 cases were reported in the year 2018. In comparison, 2,445 such incidents were reported by newspapers between January and December 2017.

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Johnson returns to UK amid rumors he will run for leader

TNT Monitoring Desk

October 23, 2022

LONDON: The lightning-fast race to replace Liz Truss as British Prime Minister got even wilder Saturday as former leader Boris Johnson jetted back to the UK amid speculation he will run to reclaim his former job.

Johnson was ousted by a series of ethics scandals just three months ago, but boarded a flight back to London from his vacation in the Dominican Republic, days after the dramatic resignation of his successor, Liz Truss.

He remains a divisive figure among fellow Conservative lawmakers.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, said Saturday morning that it was “difficult to see” how Johnson could become prime minister again when he is “absorbed and distracted” by an ongoing inquiry into alleged parties at Downing Street while the rest of the country was observing COVID-19 lockdown rules, and Johnson’s statements to parliament afterward. The new prime minister is supposed to be in place by Oct. 28.

Even so, Johnson has the public backing of several other former Cabinet colleagues, including former Home Secretary Priti Patel, who tweeted Saturday: “Boris has the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right.”

Johnson needs the backing of 100 lawmakers before 2 p.m. Monday to be on the ballot paper.

Johnson’s former Treasury chief, Rishi Sunak, who precipitated Johnson’s ouster by resigning in protest at his former boss in July, is another likely runner. Sunak lost to Truss in a vote of Conservative Party grassroots members just over seven weeks ago, but he was strongly supported by his party’s lawmakers.

Sunak’s warning to Truss during the previous leadership race that aggressive tax cuts would devalue the pound and send interest rates soaring was proved right earlier this month, and he is being pitched as a safe pair of hands who can shore up financial markets. The Truss government was later forced to reverse almost all of the unfunded cuts that it announced.

Conservative lawmaker Helen Grant tweeted that she is backing Sunak again because of his “economic and organizational competence”.

House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt is the only candidate to publicly declare she is running to replace Truss, saying in a tweet Friday that she represents “a fresh start.”

Mordaunt, a straight-talking 49-year-old Royal Navy reservist who briefly served as U.K. defense secretary in 2019, is the bookmakers’ third favorite. Outside of Conservative circles she is perhaps best known for appearing on the 2014 reality TV diving show “Splash!” in which contestants learn to dive.

Johnson has so far won the support of six Cabinet ministers, including respected Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. But he was lagging behind Sunak in publicly declared support, Saturday, as was Mordaunt. Bookmakers make Sunak the most likely next leader.

The leadership uncertainty comes at a time of weak economic growth and as millions struggle with higher borrowing costs and rising prices for groceries, fuel and other basics. A growing wave of strikes by train and postal workers, lawyers and others has revealed mounting discontent as a recession looms.

Truss quit Thursday after a turbulent 45 days, conceding that she could not deliver on her tax-cutting economic package, which she was forced to abandon after it caused turmoil in financial markets.

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Islamabad police lodges FIR against Sophia Mirza, Shahzad Akbar

Our Correspondent

October 23, 2022

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police has registered a case number 465/22 against model Sophia Mirza, former accountability minister Shahzad Akbar and others on the request of Umar Farooq Zahoor for conspiracy, forgery and misuse of public office.

At the Police Station Secretariat in Islamabad, Norwegian origin Pakistani businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor has registered a case alleging that Miss Sophia Mirza and Mirza Shahzad conspired to create a fabricated story against him by misusing authority and using undue influence.

Umar Farooq Zahoor has engaged lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq to represent him at all forums in relation to this matter. The lawyer said there is overwhelming evidence against the accused persons and conviction is possible through efficacious and robust prosecution of this matter.

Mian Ali Ashfaq stated that Islamabad Police should make every effort to bring Shahzad Akbar into the fold of inquiry and prosecution of this matter, including arrest through Interpol if he disregards or does not comply with the notices issued by Islamabad Police in due course.

Umar Farooq Zahoor has stated in the application that both Sophia Mirza (also known as Sofia Mirza and Khushbakhat Mirza) and Shahzad Akbar conspired against him and intentionally misled former PM Imran Khan’s cabinet by not disclosing to the federal cabinet that he was Ambassador at Large of Liberia for Middle East and South East Asia including Pakistan and that criminal prosecution was not possible for a diplomat in a family dispute.

Umar Farooq Zahoor has been living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the last two decades as ambassador at large for the republic of Liberia since 2019 for the middle east and south east and Pakistan region.

Umar Farooq Zahoor has also accused two senior officers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of being part of the conspiracy against him.

The application says: “That Shehzad Akbar, Sofia Mirza and Sanaullah Abbasi (EX DG FIA) with criminal intent and consultation with each other got registered FIR No. 36/20 and 40/20 in FIA CCC Lahore and Shehzad Akbar and Sanaullah Abbasi with criminal intent by misusing their position and authority pressurized the investigation officers of the case especially Umaid Butt, Deputy Director AHTC, Syed Ali Mardan Shah Inspector FIA ACC, Habib Ur Rehman Inspector FIA/AHTC, Hina Khan IP/SHO Banking Crime, Beenish Rehman SI/SHO Anti-Corruption, Uzma Ashiq SI/SHO Corporate Crime to prepare a forged and fabricated warrant of arrest of the applicant so the enable them to get Red warrant from Interpol. They further prepared a fake warrant of arrest and order of court after consultation with each other with criminal intent and prepared another fake Non bailable warrant of arrest.”

His application to the police station says that the accused “prepared false, fabricated and forged documents in the name of Honorable court and the Honorable Judge and used the same as original one and on the instructions and will of Sanaullah Abbasi (EX DG FIA ) to mislead the Honorable Supreme Court a fake, false and fabricated report dated 12-01-2022 was prepared.

“The applicant filed an application in the court of Ghulam Murtaza Wirk learned Judicial Magistrate Section 30 Lahore for summoning of record of the case and to get attested copies of the case record, the Honourable court summoned the challan as well as the record , the accused persons submitted 1 page report dated 04-06-2022 and did not mention a word about the case rather narrated another fake and fabricated story, upon which the court held vide detailed order dated 04-06-2022 that neither any non bailable warrant of arrest have been issued from court nor any report u/s 173 crpc has been submitted by the FIA which proves the fabrication of non bailable warrants of arrest prepared by the above named accused persons.”

Umar Farooq Zahoor requested to the police station to register a case against the accused persons for preparing fake and fabricated documents by” forging the signature and stamp of Honorable Judge, using forged documents as original one, deliberately preparing a fabricated report with criminal intent on the basis of forged documents for Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan and misusing the authority with criminal intent by breaching the trust of public office which was entrusted to them and above name accused persons be prosecuted for justice and fair play”.

The FIA Lahore branch registered cases of money-laundering and corruption against Mr Zahoor on the request of his former wife Sophia Mirza in March 2020 to get him on the Interpol database. The cases, registered with false accusations, were aimed at helping Sophia Mirza who has been involved in a long custody battle with Mr Zahoor over the couple’s twin daughters. Zainab and Zunierah, both aged 15, have been living with their father in Dubai since they were born.

Recently, the FIA confirmed that it had written to Interpol that Mr Zahoor was no longer a person of interest for the agency and no longer on the Exit Control List (ECL). Following that, the Interpol announced last week that it had removed his name from the Interpol Red Notice List.

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Malala praises bravery of Sindh’s flood-hit female victims

Sameena Umar

October 13, 2022

KARACHI: “You are brave women coping in these difficult times”, said Malala Yousafzai, Nobel laureate while talking to female victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan during her visit in Dadu area of Sindh province.

Malala Yousafzai landed in Karachi a day earlier with her parents on her second visit to Pakistan since she was shot in the head at point-blank range by Taliban gunmen in October 2012 at the age of 15 as she was returning from her school in the Swat Valley.

The Pakistani education rights icon last visited the country nearly four years ago in 2018. During her current trip to Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai aims to help the flood victims of Sindh.

Sindh chief minister’s spokesperson Abdul Rasheed Chana said Yousafzai visited Juhi, a flood-affected area of Dadu district, where she interacted with the flood affectees.

The flood-affected women welcomed her to their camp as Malala sat with the women and listened to their problems and encouraged them.

She commended their bravery during this difficult time.

Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, meanwhile, in a briefing to Yousafzai, said that there is still water in many areas. After draining the water, more surveys will be done to determine the damage to the schools in the area, he said.

He said that the education of two million children in 12,000 schools has been affected, on which Yousafzai expressed concern.

Malala Yousafzai was accompanied by Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah and social worker and founder of Zindagi Trust Shehzad Roy.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah appreciated Yousafzai’s visit to the flood-hit areas, saying her visit will raise the voice of a humanitarian crisis in Sindh to the world.

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Islamabad court approves two-day remand of Swati in controversial tweets case

Tanzeel Ahmed

October 13, 2022

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Thursday sent senior PTI leader Senator Azam Khan Swati into police custody on a two-day physical remand after he was arrested over his alleged “controversial” tweets.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) took Swati into custody from his home in Islamabad earlier, and presented him before senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti’s court in the federal capital.

The agency’s cybercrime wing registered a case against Swati late Wednesday night over the “controversial” tweets.

The PTI leader, soon after his arrest, was presented before senior civil judge Shabbir Bhatti’s court in the federal capital. PTI’s lawyer Ali Bukhari represented Swati in court.

At the outset of the court proceeding, the FIA officials requested the court to grant a seven-day physical remand of Swati for investigation.

However, Swati’s counsel claimed that the “worst” torture was inflicted upon the senator. They stressed that Swati has been arrested only on “political grounds”.

Later, the court partially accepted the FIA’s plea, granting a two-day physical remand of Swati.

He is the third senior leader of the Imran Khan-led PTI who has been arrested by the FIA after Saifullah Khan Nyazee and Hamid Zaman. However, Nyazee and Zaman are being probed for their alleged involvement in the prohibited funding to the party.

Meanwhile, PTI General Secretary Asad Umar condemned the arrest and demanded the immediate release of Swati.

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UNGA unanimously adopts resolution asking full support in rehabilitation, reconstruction of Pakistan

TNT Monitoring Desk

October 8, 2022

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has unanimously adopted a resolution urging donor nations and institutions to provide full support to rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan.

“The scaling calamities in Pakistan can linger for years. Massive guidance and support to the government of Pakistan are absolutely essential,” said UN Secretary General António Guterres, while speaking in favour of the resolution.

The resolution, co-sponsored by 159 countries, urges the international community, “in particular donor countries, international financial institutions and relevant international organisations, as well as the private sector and civil society, to extend full support and assistance to Pakistan in its efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the floods and to meet the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs”.

Recalling his recent visit to Pakistan, the UN chief said he did not only see the devastations caused by the floods. “I saw the best of humanity. I saw the immense generosity and solidarity of neighbors and strangers helping one another,” he said. “So, people themselves have risked and lost all their worldly possessions to rescue others.”

The secretary general recalled that on Oct 4, the UN launched a revised plan for collecting $816 million to help the flood victims in Pakistan. “I urge donor countries, international financial institutions, and other relevant international organisations, along with the private sector and civil society, to fully support these efforts,” Guterres said.

During an earlier UNGA debate on the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate-inducted disasters, Pakistan called for an early solution to the debt distress of nearly 60 developing countries through effective operation of international agreements and bilateral arrangements.

Pakistan specifically called for implementing the G-20 Common Framework, which addresses the problem of unsustainable debts faced by many developing nations.

Recent reports by various financial institutions acknowledge that about 60 per cent of low-income countries are at high risk or already in debt distress. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently published a list of 73 countries that face debt-related vulnerabilities.

At Thursday’s debate, Pakistan warned that more than 50 developing countries faced debt distress, and many may be obliged to default, as climate change continues to take its heavy toll. Pakistan, speaking for the Group of 77 (developing countries) and China, also called for a clear roadmap to overcome the recent series of “shocks” to the world economy.

“Countries, like Pakistan, which confront such climate-induced disasters, should not be left to fend for themselves,” said Pakistan’s UN permanent representative Munir Akram in his address to the General Assembly, adding, “We must construct global mechanisms that can enable climate-struck countries to access resources to mitigate the impacts of the ever more frequent and more intense climate disasters and to recover quickly from such disasters”.

“The unequal impacts have been accompanied by a deficit in solidarity — as visible on vaccine availability and the liquidity support — $17 trillion generated in the richer, less than $100 billion for the developing world,” Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the General Assembly Second Committee, which deals with economic and financial matters.

Pakistan is the current chairman of G-77 and China, which now has 134 members and is the United Nations’ biggest intergovernmental group of emerging countries.

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