Islamabad, 15 July 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening global humanitarian cooperation, disaster preparedness, and relief efforts during a meeting with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Tom Fletcher, at the Prime Minister House.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Welcoming Mr. Fletcher, the Prime Minister appreciated the invaluable humanitarian work of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in responding to complex emergencies around the world. He acknowledged OCHA’s steadfast support to Pakistan, particularly during the catastrophic floods of 2022, and thanked the organization for its continued assistance in strengthening the country’s disaster management and response capabilities.
The Prime Minister noted that Pakistan’s national and provincial disaster management institutions had significantly enhanced their capacity to respond to climate-induced disasters. However, he stressed that the growing frequency and intensity of climate-related emergencies required greater preparedness, stronger resilience, and enhanced coordination among national, regional, and international stakeholders.
Mr. Tom Fletcher thanked the Prime Minister for the warm reception and praised the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and OCHA. He commended the Prime Minister’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability, emphasizing that sustainable peace was vital to addressing the humanitarian and economic consequences of conflicts.
During the meeting, Mr. Fletcher briefed the Prime Minister on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the challenges faced by OCHA in delivering urgently needed assistance to affected populations. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued support for OCHA’s humanitarian operations in Afghanistan.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the United Nations and OCHA, the Prime Minister reiterated the country’s commitment to working closely with international partners to strengthen humanitarian cooperation, improve disaster preparedness, and support vulnerable communities affected by conflicts, climate change, and natural disasters.