ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized the need for closer cooperation with the Commonwealth in the areas of climate change, education, parliamentary exchanges and disaster preparedness.
He called for enhanced interaction between parliamentary bodies, especially among young MPs and students, to further strengthen and promote friendly ties with Commonwealth member states.
The President expressed these views during a conversation with a delegation led by Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.
Welcoming the delegation, the President said that as a founding member of the Commonwealth, Pakistan attaches great importance to the organization to promote cooperation among member states.
The meeting saw an exchange of views on the implications of climate change for Pakistan. The President said that Pakistan has suffered a lot due to the effects of climate change. He informed that over 2 million mangroves were planted in Sindh to mitigate the effects of climate change, which also earned $27 million by trading carbon credits in the international market.
He also mentioned that the Sindh government has started construction of 2 million flood-proof houses after the 2022 floods.
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said Pakistan faces enormous challenges related to climate change and is among the countries most vulnerable to its effects.
She highlighted the Commonwealth’s strong engagement with Pakistan and expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s continued support for the work of the organization.
The President commended Secretary General Patricia Scotland’s climate advocacy for Pakistan in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly the devastating floods caused by climate change in 2022.
