ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday emphasized the need for stronger cooperation with the Commonwealth in areas such as climate change, education, parliamentary exchanges, and disaster preparedness.
He called for enhanced interactions among parliamentary bodies, particularly young parliamentarians and students, to further strengthen and promote bonds of friendship with Commonwealth member states.
The president made these remarks while meeting a delegation led by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.
Welcoming the delegation, the president noted that Pakistan, as a founding member of the Commonwealth, attaches great importance to the organization for fostering cooperation among member states.
The meeting addressed the consequences of climate change for Pakistan. The president highlighted that Pakistan has suffered significantly due to climate change impacts and noted that over 2 million mangroves have been planted in Sindh to mitigate these effects. This initiative has also earned $27 million through trading carbon credits in the international market.
He also mentioned that the Sindh government has started constructing 2 million flood-resilient houses in response to the 2022 floods.
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland acknowledged the severe challenges Pakistan faces due to climate change and noted that the country is among the most vulnerable to its effects. She expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s ongoing support for the Commonwealth’s work.
The president praised Secretary-General Scotland’s climate advocacy for Pakistan, especially in addressing the aftermath of the devastating floods caused by climate change in 2022.
