Secretary General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland has arrived in Islamabad on five-day visit to Pakistan. Shewill meet with Pakistan’s leadership, members of the cabinet, youth leaders, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders.
Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan received the Secretary-General, who had been invited earlier by the government. She is visiting the country for the first time and is a staunch advocate of Pakistan in meeting the adverse impacts of climate change.
She arrived at the occasion of the anniversary of the catastrophic 2022 floods in Pakistan that submerged a third of the country and caused more than $30 billion in damage. She is to visit some of the areas that were affected by the floods. During her visit, the two sides would discuss avenues to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and the Commonwealth in other areas of shared interest, including supporting Pakistan’s national development plan, empowering youth, and boosting trade and investment.
The year 2023-24 is designated as the “Year of Youth” by the Commonwealth and Pakistan will chair the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. The Secretary-General will receive briefings on the Prime Minister’s Youth Program and highlight the opportunities Commonwealth membership brings to the youth. Pakistan as the organization’s founding member values the Commonwealth as an important forum to have consensus on global issues and challenges. Ms. Patricia Scotland’s visit would provide an opportunity to strengthen the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth of Nations commonly known as the Commonwealth, is an international association of 56 member states. The vast majority of these member states are the former territories of the British Empire. They are connected through their use of the English language and historical-cultural ties. The organization is a home to some 2.7 billion people including of the advanced and developing economies. About 33 members are small states, including many island nations. The organization works together for prosperity, democracy, and peace. The values and principles of the Commonwealth are expressed in its Charter.