Islamabad — Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani met with Ms. Coco Ushiyama, Representative and Country Director of the World Food Programme in Pakistan, to discuss urgent humanitarian needs as the country confronts a severe flood crisis and rising malnutrition risks.
Mr. Gilani highlighted Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to climate change and warned that recent catastrophic floods have left millions homeless, hungry and exposed to disease. He described widespread destruction of crops, loss of livestock and intensifying poverty in districts across South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling for real-time international assistance to meet immediate relief and longer-term rehabilitation needs.
The Acting President urged stronger parliamentary diplomacy and closer coordination between WFP and the legislature to ensure well-informed decisions and targeted interventions for the most vulnerable at the grassroots level. He underscored the importance of WFP initiatives such as Nashonuma and the school nutrition programme and pressed for scaling these efforts in flood-hit areas to prevent further deterioration in child nutrition.
Gilani also recommended expanding climate resilience projects, including the Integrated Climate Risk Management programme supported by WFP and the Green Climate Fund, to cover flood-prone regions of southern Punjab. Such measures, he said, would strengthen early warning systems, bolster community resilience and reduce the ongoing impacts of the flood crisis on livelihoods.
Ms. Ushiyama conveyed WFP’s commitment to support Pakistan and said the organisation is keen to work closely with the Benazir Income Support Programme to tackle stunting and child malnutrition. She briefed the Acting President on the emerging situation in flood-affected districts, particularly in South Punjab, and expressed interest in collaborating with Senate standing committees on health and national food security.
Gilani noted immediate needs on the ground, including mosquito nets, blankets, quilts and other essential household items, and thanked WFP for its relief efforts across South Punjab and other affected areas. He urged continued momentum in relief and rehabilitation work, stressing that coordinated action is vital to restore livelihoods, reduce hunger and improve resilience in the face of the unfolding flood crisis.
