Islamabad – National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday received Ambassador of Ireland Mary O’Neill at Parliament House, where the two sides exchanged views on Pakistan’s flood emergency, climate resilience, and avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Welcoming the envoy, Speaker Sadiq highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on Pakistan, despite its negligible contribution to global emissions. He noted that the recent monsoon floods have caused devastation on a scale “even greater than the catastrophic floods of 2022,” severely affecting communities, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
He attributed the worsening crisis to torrential rains, water releases from India, shrinking riverbeds, and encroachments along waterways, all of which amplified the magnitude of destruction. The Speaker stressed that parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people contacts can play a vital role in deepening Pakistan–Ireland ties and fostering cooperation on climate adaptation, disaster management, and sustainable development.
Ambassador O’Neill expressed her condolences over the loss of lives and property in the ongoing floods, conveying Ireland’s solidarity with the people of Pakistan. She also praised the Pakistani diaspora in Ireland, particularly in the healthcare sector, for their meaningful contributions to Irish society.
The Irish envoy assured that her government would extend support for flood relief and rehabilitation efforts, reaffirming Ireland’s commitment to working with Pakistan on humanitarian assistance and broader development cooperation.
