By: Zaheer ud din Babar
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address in the United Nations General Assembly covers different aspects which is facing Pakistan these days. For example, Shehbaz Sharif said to the world community that the flood in Pakistan is due to climate change but the bitter reality is that, as a country, our role to change world atmosphere is limited. The Prime Minister also informed world leaders that floods have wreaked havoc on ordinary citizens for 40 days and 40 nights. Shehbaz Sharif said that the Pakistan’s genuine concern is that the international media is not paying attention to our flood affected people.
In his address, the Prime Minister also mentioned the ongoing situation in occupied Kashmir. Shehbaz Sharif categorically said that the BJP government has been deliberately trying to change the demographics from majority Muslims to majority Hindus. Prime Minister has emphasized the international community to use their influence to persuade India to solve the dispute of Kashmir. In his UN address, Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is trying to overcome the losses inflicted due to the floods, but the issue of Kashmir must be settled as soon as possible. In his speech, the Prime Minister clearly said that Pakistan would like to see Afghanistan at peace with itself and the world. He clearly stated that he hopes that Afghanistan comes a country which respects and nurtures all its citizens regardless of gender, ethnicity, and religion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is sincerely trying to overcome all the problems the country is facing, but on the other hand, the political uncertainty is also a big issue. The cause of the uncertainty is Imran Khan’s anti-government movement. Ex-Prime Minister consciously blamed the PDM for delaying tactics in announcing the general election. Political observers raised the important question about whether early elections would solve our national problems. The answer to that question is no. The latest development is that the Prime Minister has met with the PMLN party head Mian Nawaz Sharif in London. Mian Nawaz Sharif has categorically stated that all allied parties are convinced that PDM government must fulfill their constitutional term.
He also mentioned that no pressure would be taken and that the government should focus their attention towards the flood affected Pakistanis. Every sensible Pakistani knows that the flood situation in our country demands serious efforts from all quarters of our society. Prime Minister tried his best to overcome this huge disaster but the scale of destruction is unbearable.
Millions of Pakistanis are affected due to the flood, with hundreds of acres of crops being destroyed. Some believe that as a nation, we can control this damage if necessary measures are taken. Pakistan is a country where the effects of climate change are very noticeable. International experts clearly warn our authorities that different types of natural disasters can affect this country in the future. The fact is that our responsible people always avoid performing their official duties. Their priorities are to secure their individual and group interests. Absence of check and balance system has created a vacuum where the majority of powerful authorities fail to perform their duties. Furthermore, to date, there is no example where any punishment has been dealt for failure to perform their duties.
Now it is quite possible that the government might take major steps to overcome the problem the nation is facing. The former finance minister of Pakistan is expected to return to Pakistan and take his oath as a finance minister on September 27,2022. Apparently, it is a clear gesture from the PDM government that he will complete his constitutional term and the elections will happen in 2023.