Ranil telephones Pakistan’s PM to express solidarity

President Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to express solidarity with the people of Pakistan following the devastation caused by the recent floods.

The Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka said that President Wickremesinghe offered sympathies on the widespread devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan and condoled with Prime Minister Sharif on the loss of lives.

He expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Pakistan braving the unforeseen natural calamity with resolve.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Wickremesinghe for his compassion and expression of support in these testing times and briefed him on the large-scale destruction caused across Pakistan by unprecedented rainfall resulting in floods and landslides.

The Pakistan Prime Minister highlighted that the floods have caused extensive loss of human lives, livelihoods, livestock, crops, property, and critical infrastructure.

Shehbaz Sharif also apprised President Wickremesinghe of the Government?s well coordinated humanitarian response including the establishment of a Relief Fund in which people in Pakistan and overseas can donate to the flood relief efforts. He reiterated the need for enhanced awareness in the international community about the scale of the floods which have deluged one-third of the country.

The Pakistan Prime Minister hoped that the ?2022 UN Flash Appeal? for the Pakistan flood response launched on 30 August 2022 would contribute towards meeting the relief funding requirements and assist in the expeditious provision of relief to those in dire need. The Prime Minister also highlighted the vital importance of the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.

Shehbaz Sharif also felicitated President Wickremesinghe on his election as the new President of Sri Lanka.

The two leaders expressed the desire to further strengthen the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in areas of mutual interest. (Colombo Gazette)