Pakistan foreign minister calls for urgent assistance

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called for urgent assistance to more than 50 developing countries trapped in multiple crises.

"Our countries and people confront monumental challenges. We need to change the policies and structures that perpetuate inequality and poverty," he told the annual ministerial meeting of the Group of 77 and China, which is chaired by Pakistan this year.

Noting that the world is facing "triple interlocking crises of food, fuel and finance," he called for larger official development assistance and concessional finance to developing countries. As part of the UN Secretary-General's proposal, Zardari welcomed a $500 billion stimulus programme to revive the economies and development objectives of those countries in extreme economic distress.

Additionally, the Minister urged the World Food Programme to provide emergency food supplies to 250 million people in food distress. During a subsequent press conference, Zardari called for "generous" international assistance during the next phase of his country's reconstruction and rehabilitation effort.

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