{"id":32641,"date":"2024-07-29T22:01:26","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T22:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=32641"},"modified":"2024-07-29T22:01:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T22:01:26","slug":"commonwealth-secretary-general-visits-pakistan-heads-of-govs-meeting-women-empowerment-youth-development-discussed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/commonwealth-secretary-general-visits-pakistan-heads-of-govs-meeting-women-empowerment-youth-development-discussed\/","title":{"rendered":"Commonwealth Secretary General Visits Pakistan – Heads of Govs Meeting, Women Empowerment & Youth Development Discussed"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar received Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, in the first official engagement of her five-day visit to Pakistan.<\/h5>\n
Welcoming Secretary General Scotland to Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister Dar reaffirmed the high importance accorded by Pakistan to the Commonwealth and its strong commitment to upholding the values and principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.<\/h5>\n
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Secretary General Scotland for her climate advocacy on behalf of Pakistan following the 2022 floods that submerged two-thirds of Pakistan\u2019s territory and inflicted economic losses of over US$30 billion. He appreciated the appointment of a dedicated Climate Finance Advisor for Pakistan by the Commonwealth to support Pakistan\u2019s efforts for building climate resilience and disaster preparedness.\"\"<\/h5>\n
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary General also discussed matters related to women empowerment and youth participation in Pakistan\u2019s development economy through education and training programmes.<\/h5>\n
The two sides also discussed the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held later this year. The Deputy Prime Minister said that he looked forward to engaging with Secretary-General Scotland and his Commonwealth counterparts at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers\u2019 Meeting before the CHOGM. He added that as a founding member, Pakistan considered the Commonwealth as an important forum for forging consensus on contemporary global and regional challenges.<\/h5>\n
Mr. Dar reassured the Secretary General of Pakistan\u2019s commitment to the Commonwealth Sustainable Development Agenda. Pakistan\u2019s vision of regional connectivity and trade matches with the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda. We are confident that the digital and physical connectivity clusters of the Commonwealth can contribute to developing strong partnerships amongst the member countries in terms of trade and connectivity.\"\"<\/h5>\n
The Deputy Prime Minister appreciated the Commonwealth\u2019s longstanding support for Pakistan\u2019s economic development, democratic institutions, and rule of law.<\/h5>\n
Both sides held a joint press stakeout. Ishaq Dar, in his remarks said that\u00a0 presence\u00a0 of the Secretary General in Pakistan today reflects her commitment to strong ties between Pakistan and the Commonwealth. Mr. Dar appreciated her tremendous contributions in promoting cooperation in the field of education, youth empowerment, capacity building and climate action.Secretary General\u2019s personal support and climate advocacy on behalf of Pakistan following the devastating floods of 2022 was instrumental in our recovery efforts.<\/h5>\n
He said that as a founding member, Pakistan attaches great importance to the Commonwealthand institutions. Itis an important platform for forging consensus and developing partnerships in face of unprecedented global challenges. Its role in upholding the principles and norms of interstate relations is more crucial than ever.<\/h5>\n
“We,therefore,believe that the Commonwealth should call for the resolution of outstanding disputes among Member States with greater urgency and press for the respect of international law and implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, Dar said.<\/h5>\n
He\u00a0 conveyed\u00a0 gratitude to the Secretary General for the technical assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat in trade policy formulation, export development, and support for SMEs. This support is critical in capacity building and improved governance.<\/h5>\n
Mr. Dar said , We see vast opportunities for collaboration with the Commonwealth in realizing our developmental goals, particularly in education, skills development, youth and women empowerment, health, and environmental preservation. Pakistan will, therefore,continue to engage with the Commonwealth with a special focus on women empowerment and capacity building for the young people.<\/h5>\n
Pakistan remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening and modernizing the Commonwealth to meet 21st-century challenges. We will continue to play an active role in building bridges between the Commonwealth Secretariat and Member States and advancing Commonwealth reforms through our leadership of the Informal Working Group of the Board of Governors.<\/h5>\n

Pak – UK Foreign Ministers Discuss Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation & Commonwealth Meeting in Oct<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n