Ukraine conflict, rising inflation, and rupee depreciation could all contribute to a potential food crisis in Pakistan, US and Pakistani officials warned.
The Ukraine conflict, rising inflation, and rupee depreciation could all contribute to a potential food crisis in Pakistan, US and Pakistani officials warned on Tuesday. The officials participated in a discussion between Washington and Islamabad over the internet, and they also emphasized the need for an evaluation and monitoring system to prevent corruption and poor management of post-flood reconstructions.
Masood Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, responded in the affirmative when moderator Adam Weinstein referred to Pakistan’s problems as “a perfect storm” and inquired as to whether Islamabad was concerned. “The war in Ukraine had an immediate impact on us. “And as a result, we were forced to import less wheat and fertilizer from Ukraine ,” the ambassador said. Pakistan has since been working hard to put things right, but things took a turn for the worse when there were floods and can face food crisis.
Director of USAID says monitoring the situation in Pakistan and looking for ways to assist is in their best interest. Mr. Khan claimed that agriculture was crucial for ensuring food security as well as generating about $4.4 billion in export revenue. “That’s why it’s been a setback,” he said of Pakistan.
The moderator brought up how the war on terror has taken up most of the US-Pakistan relationship so far, with larger issues like climate change and natural disasters being ignored.
Steve Rynecki, the director of USAID’s Office of Climate and Sustainable Growth at the US Embassy in Islamabad and a self-described “development diplomat,” said that Washington’s policy was shifting and that it was now concentrating on additional issues. One of the greatest global challenges of “our time,” according to him, is climate change.
He added that when instability is caused by man-made or natural disasters (like the floods in Pakistan), “the ramifications and ripples can also reach the US, whether in the form of refugees or insecurity.” He claimed that keeping an eye on the situation in Pakistan and “trying to find a way to help” was in the best interests of national security and the American economy.
In addition to post-flood recovery and rebuilding, Ambassador Khan stated that “we also need to focus on macro-economic stability because recovery and revitalization of our economy must move in tandem.” Ambassador Khan concurred with the moderator that not all of the generous pledges — of almost $10 billion — made at a recent UN-sponsored conference in Geneva materialised.
“Realistically, none of these commitments made at international conferences mature very quickly or easily. “However, the majority of the pledges made in Geneva have come from multilateral organizations, like banks, that have reused their previous programs,” he said.
“Therefore, at least 90% of this funding would go toward projects. Because of this, I continue to be confident that we can use all of these funds if we demonstrate competence.” He added that Pakistan would value a monitoring and evaluation system from the lenders. He continued, “These are not grants, and the government of Pakistan would not use them.”
The moderator then reminded Mr. Rynecki that both China and the United States were doing rehabilitation and reconstruction work in Pakistan and asked if they could coordinate their efforts.
“At this stage, it’s very parallel,” said the US official. “We have plenty of work on our hands. We have partners that we are working with right now. “And other countries in the region (excluding China) that are here to help, we definitely support them.”
Replying to a question about the possible misappropriation of flood aid, Ambassador Khan said: “It depends on what money we are talking about. If we are talking about money that is tied to certain projects by the World Bank or the ADB, they are responsible for monitoring how that money is used. and the government would collaborate.”
But he went on to say that “we would still welcome any monitoring mechanism if there are pure grants that have been handed over to the government of Pakistan.” However, “the government of Pakistan and its institutions are committed to transparency and accountability because we do not want to give this impression to the international community that somehow this assistance coming for flood relief and reconstruction is not being properly used,” the ambassador said, pointing out that accusations of corruption are always present in situations like this.
When the same question was put to Mr. Rynecki, he responded that USAID and other US agencies that provide aid abroad follow very strict guidelines and regulations set forth by the relevant inspector general. “As a result, the inspector general sets the tone for how we will allot funds before keeping an eye on the situation to see how it develops.
a cautionary tale The flood was “a wakeup call” for a relationship that had been “narrowly focused on the war on terror for two decades,” the moderator said. Asserting that “supporting the war against terrorism is important,” Ambassador Khan noted that the US and Pakistan have had a strategic alliance for the past 70 years.
However, he agreed that Pakistan and the US should reevaluate their relationship and spend more time discussing issues related to the environment, trade, investment, and other topics.
The ambassador responded, “The US should care because we have been a partner, a steadfast ally,” for more than 70 years, when asked why the US should be concerned. According to Mr. Khan, the US withdrawal “will create volatility and vulnerability that will hurt US interests as well.” According to Mr. Rynecki, Washington recognises the significance of Pakistan and views it as a difficult region, and “the impact of the climate adds to the challenge.”
He claimed that Pakistan also provided “amazing opportunities” for investors and advised US investors to investigate these possibilities. “The US is also affected by the peace and prosperity in Pakistan. “We are focusing on water, energy, and climate in our efforts to advance long-term peace and prosperity in Pakistan ” he said.
Food crisis in Pakistan can caused by a combination of factors, including climate change, water scarcity, and economic problems such as high inflation and unemployment.