Amid the devastation from the flash floods in Pakistan, many public figures are calling for states that are responsible for the majority carbon emissions to take responsibility. One such person is Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. who called for the country’s loans to be pardoned.
The current flash floods in the country are an example of the consequences of climate change. Pakistan is responsible for less than 1% of the world’s carbon emissions. Yet, it has been subjected to one of the worst climate catastrophes in the form of floods.
While the country has suffered damages worth billions of dollars with thousands dead and millions displaced, the world has called for Pakistan’s international debt to be canceled.
The subject came up when MSNBC political show host Mehdi Hasan probed the matter with wildlife activist Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr. They talked about how foreign aid is somewhat of a bandaid on the matter when damages exceed donated amounts.
That’s when the wildlife activist called for the country’s mammoth loans to be waived.
“Cancel debt. Cancel Pakistan debt,” he suggested.
The U.S. is committing $30 million in aid to Pakistan as the country is being devastated by massive flooding. @BhuttoZulfikar tells @MehdiRHasan Pakistan’s debt needs to be cleared though, saying “if it isn’t, people will starve.” pic.twitter.com/4wshSO6CmS
— The Mehdi Hasan Show (@MehdiHasanShow) September 5, 2022
Soon enough that’s all many other Netizens were calling for as well.
Agree with Zulfikar 💯 Cancel all of Pakistan’s debt. That will allow the incoming @ImranKhanPTI govt (IA) to focus on uplifting the people and economy. The developed world owes Pakistan this much.
— SaimaSH 🇵🇰🇨🇦 (@SaimaSHussain) September 5, 2022
#PakistanDemandsCompensationhttps://t.co/USR2IV8oSh
— #PeopleStandWithPalestine 🇬🇧🇵🇰🇾🇪🇦🇫🇮🇪🇵🇸 (@KianiJee) September 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/aliraza77/status/1566642187135238150
Aside from the people in Pakistan personally affected by all this, many Netizens on a global scale also suggested the same. Looks like many are in agreement with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr. on the matter.
Pakistan had the hottest city on earth, Jacobabad at 51 degrees celsius in May 2022.
It experienced forest fires, melting glaciers and now has the worst floods in living memory.
Its at the epicentre of climate catastrophe. Cancel the debt, give Pakistan climate compensation now
— Claudia Webbe (@ClaudiaWebbe) September 4, 2022
Rich nations owe reparations to Pakistan for the climate disaster they have caused.
— Claudia Webbe (@ClaudiaWebbe) September 4, 2022
Now would be an ideal time to cancel the $38 billion in debt service payments Pakistan has up to the end of 2022.#CancelTheDebt #Pakistan #PakistanFloods2022
— Jenny Ricks (@jenny_ricks) August 30, 2022
The only appropriate response to the climate catastrophe in Pakistan is to unconditionally cancel the country's external debts. These resources should be used to support people and ecosystems rather than to service foreign capital. It is a minimal first step toward reparations.
— Jason Hickel (@jasonhickel) August 30, 2022
What do you have to say about the situation and the suggestion by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr.? Let us know in the comments below.
