ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday announced plans to co-host an international climate resilient Pakistan conference titled: Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF).

The framework would comprise plans and arrangements for the post-floods’ recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction and forging long-term partnerships for building Pakistan’s climate resilience and adaptation, said minister for climate change Sherry Rehman when she met the delegation of country directors of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) on the panel of Pakistan Humanitarian Forum as part of consultation for the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, scheduled to be held in Geneva on Jan 9.

Sherry Rehman said the conference would be co-chaired by the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.

“We are grateful to the support of our international partners, and we are looking forward to exploring concrete ways and means to build Pakistan’s long-term climate resilience and adaptation including the articulation of provincial perspectives,” the minister said.

Speaking to the delegation, the federal minister said: “This high-level Conference in Geneva aims to marshal international support for the people and government of Pakistan to move forward on post -flood recovery as soon as possible.”

The federal minister commended the humanitarian relief efforts done by the INGOs in Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods that impacted 33 million people. The PHF member INGOs mobilised $150 million for flood response.

“The ministry of climate change looks forward to working and collaborating with the INGOs on a sustained institutional basis,” she said.

The meeting was attended by the country directors of Pakistan Humanitarian Forum, ACTED, International Rescue Committee, Aga Khan Development Network, Mercy Corps, Muslim Aid, Muslim Hands, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Oxfam.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2023