Pakistan on Friday appreciated "timely support" of European parliament and European Council for their prompt relief assistance for the flood-affected people of Pakistan.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, European Union and Luxembourg, Jalil Abbas Jilani, in an address to the meeting of European parliament's delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia, said the government and people of Pakistan deeply acknowledge and appreciate the EU solidarity and support to Pakistan.
Jilani expressed gratitude to Kristalina Georgieva, the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner for visiting the flood-affected areas in Pakistan to assess the situation on ground. He also appreciated Steven Vanackere, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for their effective participation in UN meetings on Pakistan, which manifests that Pakistan is not alone in this hour of need.
The ambassador said that due to the unprecedented devastating floods, GDP growth in the coming year was expected to be 1.5 to 2 percent lower than the pre-flood target, while damage to crops and disruption of the supply chains in rural areas was expected to result in dramatically higher inflation.
He feared that this situation would dampen country's economic activity and tax revenues, resulting in an imbalance in import-export parity while severely impacting the already strained balance of payments. The ambassador said government has mobilised national resources and institutions to provide assistance and relief to the affected people and is helping them rebuild their lives. He mentioned that the government has announced a grant of Rs 100,000 for each affected household, out of which the first instalment of Rs 20,000 is already being disbursed.
The government, he added, has established the National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC), to ensure transparent and efficient utilisation of assistance received for rehabilitation and reconstruction. Jilani, however, said that the task of reconstruction and rebuilding is too huge for Pakistan to undertake it alone, adding that government's efforts must be augmented by support from the international community.
He said UN has convened two high-level meetings to mobilise assistance for Pakistan. He hoped the meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan in Brussels next month, followed by donors' conference under Pakistan Development Forum in November in Pakistan would draw a clear and concrete roadmap for assistance to the affectees.
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