Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, has stressed the importance of working with the Commonwealth and said his country dramatically values it as a founding member. He made the remarks while talking to a delegation led by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.
Boost Climate Change Initiatives
Mr Zardari said various areas, such as climate change, education, parliamentary exchanges, and natural disaster management, need enhanced cooperation. He maintained that connecting parliamentary institutions between young parliamentarians and students is key to future progress.
Severe Impacts of Climate Change in Pakistan
During their conversation, the President discussed the severe impacts of climate change on Pakistan. He added that the country has faced enormous challenges due to climate-related events that demand immediate and sustained response to mitigate these effects.
Efforts Against Climate Change in Pakistan
For instance, more than two million mangroves have been planted in Sindh as part of the country’s efforts against global warming. Moreover, Pakistan has earned 27 million dollars from trading carbon credits in the international market to mitigate its emissions.
Additionally, Zardari told them that in the wake of devastating floods in 2022, the Government of Sindh has initiated the construction of two million sustainable houses, which will provide long-term resilient housing solutions for those affected by natural disasters. Thus, the government is committed to addressing the adverse effects of climate change and improving living standards among its people.
The Secretary-General Acknowledges
Secretary General Patricia Scotland acknowledged that climate change presents serious challenges for Pakistan. She reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the country in tackling these problems. The SG noted how dynamic their work together has been, especially when dealing with issues around weather variations aimed at achieving sustainability within nations through joint development strategies.
Education And Parliamentary Exchanges
In addition to conserving the environment, we shifted the talks towards education and emphasized the opportunities for parliamentary exchanges. President Zardari reiterated that creating strong links among young legislators would help foster better understanding and cooperation between future leaders, hence calling upon more educational exchange initiatives as well as capacity building in parliament.
Strengthening Cooperation on Natural Disaster Management
They also touched on natural disaster management, considering that such calamities have hit Pakistan hard, leading to massive destruction and adverse economic effects. To this end, he said there is a need for collaboration in disaster preparedness resilience, building back a better recovery approach.
The meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, therefore, highlighted the importance of strong and continuous cooperation in dealing with climate change, education, and disaster management, among other challenges. The two leaders expressed their commitment to overcoming these challenges through joint efforts geared at sustainable development in Pakistan and across the Commonwealth.
