PM Shehbaz Sharif calls for global support, highlights Pakistan’s challenges with terrorism and debt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that following 9/11, Pakistan saw some of the worst acts of terrorism, much of which was instigated from across the border. Approximately 80,000 Pakistanis perished as a result.

Speaking at the SDG Moment 2024 Meeting on the fringes of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, he said, “We’ve finally defeated these terrorists, but the cost has been immense, with a loss of $150 billion.”

Shehbaz persuaded wealthy nations to lend financial support to underdeveloped nations grappling with debt, especially those hit by natural disasters linked to climate change.

He said that rich nations, being significant contributors to global carbon emissions, should take responsibility and help those affected. “In 2022, Pakistan experienced the most devastating floods in its history due to climate change, despite contributing almost nothing to global carbon emissions,” he added. “If this imbalance and injustice continue, the global system will fail,” he stated.The floods of 2022 caused $30 billion in losses for Pakistan.

Pakistan is yet caught in a vicious loop of borrowing money to pay back earlier debts in spite of these losses. Shehbaz referred to this as a “death trap,” claiming that it impedes the advancement of developing countries.

He also said the financial difficulties in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for trillions of dollars—money that nations like Pakistan find difficult to obtain.

Speaking about his endeavors to enhance education, Shehbaz detailed his accomplishments, beginning with projects in Punjab during his time as Chief Minister and then extending them across the country as Prime Minister.

He launched many programs aimed at strengthening poor students, including the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), which grants scholarships to boys and girls in distant locations.Among the biggest funds in South Asia, PEEF has aided hundreds of thousands of academically gifted but underprivileged kids. Students can use the grant to further their education both domestically and overseas.

Shehbaz also founded Danish Schools, which are intended for gifted underprivileged and abandoned kids.

These educational institutions provide a top-notch atmosphere for learning, complete with cutting-edge resources and highly skilled instructors. Numerous alumni of these institutions have served the nation as physicians, engineers, and scientists.

Although he acknowledged that attempts are being made to enroll the 25 million children who do not attend school, he voiced worry over the programs and initiatives his administration has implemented for skill development and vocational training.