Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called for an emergency action plan to tackle the global challenges of food insecurity and poverty.
He was addressing a news conference in New York on Wednesday on the side-lines of High level political forum, 2022 at the United Nations.
The Minister said global food insecurity is particularly hitting the developing countries due to low productivity, water scarcity and land degradation infrastructure and climate change; therefore, efforts must be increased to ramp up food production, keep supply chains open, assist poor farmers and build food banks
He underscored the need to address complex systematic issues impeding food production by the developing countries adding that efforts should be re doubled to implement the Sustainable Development Goals
The Minister stressed for collective action to minimize the cost of economic default and political crisis.
He said spirit of multi-nationalism is need of the hour and we support UN Secretary General’s initiative of global crisis response group through which he is helping the vulnerable countries.
He said Pakistan faces challenges in food, water and energy security because of host of issues related to climate change and global developments.
The Minister expressed the hope that the forum will help mobilize significant practical action to prevent famine and hunger among poorest countries.
Drawing special attention toward the vulnerable and conflict driven regions of the world, Ahsan Iqbal said the most grievous situation is of the people who are under illegal occupation like the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who suffer brutal oppression, extra judicial killings and other human rights violations and illegal demographic displacement and dispossession.
On Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Minister said Pakistan’s position on Kashmir issue is very clear and the various UN resolutions on Kashmir pending action are challenge for international community’s conscience.
Emphasizing the need for early resolution of the dispute, he said dream of durable peace in South Asia will remain elusive till the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of people of Kashmir.
The Minister said India’s illegal action on 5trh August 2019 to eliminate Jammu and Kashmir’s identity and change its demography have created imposing barrier to a just resolution of the dispute.
Ahsan Iqbal said the tensions created by India’s cruel policies in Indian Illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are left unattended, which can lead to another conflict in the region with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Talking about Afghanistan issue, Ahsan Iqbal said an opportunity for peace and stability has emerged in Afghanistan, which must not be lost now. He said the international community should engage with Afghan government to persuade them to revise their decisions regarding women education.
He said Pakistan while reserving its right to take action, is also continuing its efforts to convince Afghan government to take effective actions against terrorist groups operating within that country.
Source: Radio Pakistan