Glasgow’s council has been urged to offer “practical support” to the people of Pakistan following devastating flooding in the country.
Bailie Hanif Raja and Cllr Soryia Siddique, both Labour, called on council officials to “urgently investigate the ways in which the council family” can help Pakistan and aid Glaswegians with relief efforts.
Councillors across the city chambers backed their motion which also called on the UK Government to work with partners to provide “whatever support is needed to help struggling communities”.
Bailie Raja said there has been “significant and devastating” flooding in Pakistan, and asked the council to note over 33 million people had been affected, with at least 1,300 people dead as a result of the disaster.
“I’ve never seen anything worse than this,” he said. “People sleep at night and do not see their children the next morning. The area that has been affected is mainly poor people. This is a humanitarian crisis and it requires a humanitarian response.”
Bailie Raja, who represents Pollokshields, said a significant Pakistani population calls Glasgow home. His motion encouraged Glaswegians to support the UK Disaster Emergency Committee’s Pakistan Floods Appeal.
The motion also stated the council believes the flooding “demonstrates the catastrophic impact that climate change is already having on some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the world”.
Cllr Siddique, the Labour groups’ deputy leader, who represents Southside Central, said: “A third of Pakistan is under water. The damage is estimated to cost billions of dollars.
“But, most importantly, we should recognise that these floods may not be such an isolated incident. In fact, they are proof that the effects of climate change are catastrophic and with us right now.
“Since 1959, the US has emitted over a fifth of all heat-trapping carbon dioxide. China has emitted over 16%. Pakistan has emitted just 0.4%. And yet now, tens of millions of people find themselves victims of a catastrophe that they didn’t cause.”
Cllr Zen Ghani, SNP, who also represents Pollokshields, said: “For those of us, like me and so many of my constituents, who have Pakistani heritage, the pain and distress of learning of the suffering in Pakistan is all the more profound.
“Families across Glasgow are worried for their loved ones in Pakistan, communication lines have been severely affected and they can’t even get hold of their families.”
He added Glasgow has a tradition as “an internationalist and outward looking city”. “It is right that we look to see what we can do now to back Pakistan’s recovery.
“We echo the calls for the UK Government to provide the financial and technical assistance necessary to support the emergency appeal issued by Pakistan and the United Nations.”
An update on work to support Pakistan will be presented to the city administration committee on September 29.
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