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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state media on Wednesday announced a fresh initiative by the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO), saying it would strengthen Islamabad’s response to the ongoing monsoon floods and help support 465,000 people.

As per a report in the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), a $1 million donation from the Gates Foundation will support the WHO’s partnership with Pakistan in 33 high-risk, flood-affected districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces.

Torrential rains since Jun. 26 have killed over 800 people in Pakistan and injured more than 1,000. Pakistani authorities have ramped up rescue and rehabilitation activities, especially in Punjab, where rising water levels have spiked fears of cataclysmic floods.

“The generous donation from the Gates Foundation – totaling $ 1 million – will serve to support Pakistan’s national and provincial authorities in ensuring the continuity of life-saving health services,” APP reported.

It added that the initiative will strengthen disease surveillance, outbreak response and ensure availability of essential medical supplies in targeted locations, promote health sector coordination, and risk communication.

“The initiative, to be implemented over the next six months, will pay particular attention to pregnant women, children under five, older persons, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the most vulnerable populations in host communities,” the state media said.

Dr. Dapeng Luo, the WHO’s representative in Pakistan, thanked the Gates Foundation for its support to the local population in meeting their health needs, delivering medical supplies and saving lives.

“WHO stands with Pakistan to save lives today and build stronger, more resilient health systems for tomorrow, protecting the future generations,” Dr. Luo was quoted as saying by the APP.

Earlier this week, the United Nations said it has released $600,000 to support Pakistan’s flood response. Officials warn the current monsoon spell could last until at least Sept. 10 and may rival the catastrophic floods of 2022, which killed more than 1,700 people and caused over $30 billion in economic damage.

Despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, facing erratic weather from droughts and heatwaves to record-breaking rains.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, border security, police training and finalized an extradition treaty on Wednesday, state-run media reported as both countries eye stronger ties.

Pakistan and the Eastern European country have moved closer in recent months, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visiting Belarus in April. During his visit, Sharif held talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to review progress on bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

The latest agreements between the two sides were reached during Belarusian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Kubrakov’s ongoing visit to Islamabad, where he met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, border security and police training,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

This understanding was reached during Kubrakov’s meeting with Naqvi, during which both sides also finalized an extradition agreement and signed the protocol for its implementation, state media said.

Pakistan and Belarus also agreed to form a joint working group to further strengthen their bilateral ties, it added. Naqvi said Pakistan values its relations with Belarus and is keen to advance them in all fields.

“He welcomed the signing of the MoU between Belarus and Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, saying it will enable several thousand Pakistanis to go to Belarus for employment,” Radio Pakistan said.

The Belarusian minister later met Sharif, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, expressing his country’s desire to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture and industry.

Pakistan’s growing engagement with Belarus comes at a time when Islamabad seeks increasing trade and economic cooperation with landlocked Central Asian republics, Gulf allies, traditional allies and new ones.

Pakistan aims to leverage its strategic position as a key trade and transit hub to connect these nations to the global market, while earning much-needed foreign exchange.