APP
Riyadh: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the global north to foster unity and cooperation with the global south for equitable technology transfer and resource sharing to ensure shared prosperity amid worsening climate change and environmental challenges.
Speaking at a high-level roundtable discussion titled “Is Humanity Heading in the Right Direction?” at the 9th Future Investment Initiative (FII) Conference 2025 in Riyadh, PM Shehbaz called for mutual support to help climate-affected countries like Pakistan, rejecting repeated loans as a sustainable recovery solution.
“Repeated borrowing weakens developing economies and hinders long-term growth,” he said. “If humanity is to move forward, it must do so together — sharing its resources, technologies, and opportunities for the greater good.”
The prime minister congratulated Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his transformative vision and leadership, crediting the Kingdom’s progress as a model for societal development.
Highlighting Pakistan’s reform agenda, PM Shehbaz said the government had implemented deep-rooted structural changes, including digitizing the Federal Board of Revenue to curb corruption. “Rome wasn’t built overnight,” he said, noting that Pakistan’s 60% youth population represented both a challenge and an opportunity.
He added that Pakistan continued to face severe climate impacts despite contributing less than a fraction of one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions. Referring to the 2022 floods that caused $130 billion in economic losses, he said the country had once again been hit by devastating floods in 2025.
“This is not acceptable — this is not the direction humanity should take,” the premier emphasized, urging global solidarity in addressing climate injustice.
Discussing technology and innovation, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was rapidly adopting artificial intelligence and digital systems while training its youth in modern skills. However, he warned that AI required global cooperation to ensure its positive and ethical use.
Sharing a personal reflection, the prime minister recounted his father’s perseverance in rebuilding a nationalized steel plant in 1972, underscoring the values of hard work and resilience as the foundation of progress.
