By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking assistance from Switzerland to develop an early warning system that could help the South Asian nation cope with natural disasters, as fresh monsoon rains claimed more than 50 lives in the past two weeks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday in Bhurban, a hill station in Punjab province, to boost cooperation in disaster management, according to state media.
The pact aims to facilitate the exchange of technology, expertise and best practices in disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. It has experienced frequent floods, droughts, landslides and earthquakes in recent years, affecting millions of people and causing significant economic losses.
The agreement came a day after authorities said 12 people, including eight children, died in weather-related incidents amid fears of flash floods.
The rains have returned to Pakistan a year after the worst floods in its history submerged a third of the country, killing almost 1,800 people and causing $30 billion in damage. Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, while its contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is less than 1 percent.
“Pakistan looks forward to cooperation from Switzerland in getting advance warning system and other facets which secure Pakistan as much as possible from the natural disasters,” Sharif said.
He also expressed interest in boosting bilateral ties in areas such as tourism, trade and investment.
Cassis said disaster risk management was a global responsibility that required collective action and the Switzerland was ready to support Pakistan in this regard.
“Pakistan is a country with rich cultural heritage and beautiful landscape but unfortunately it has been grappling with the devastating effects of natural disasters,” Cassis said. “It is a stark reminder of the urgent need for international cooperation to mitigate and manage the risks associated with catastrophes.”
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