By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Commonwealth Secretary General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has paid a maiden official visit to Pakistan, on the invitation of the Government of Pakistan.
Senior Communications Officer, Media and Public Affairs, Snober Abbasi, in a statement said that during her five day visit, 28 July to 2 August 2024, Secretary-General, Scotland will meet with Pakistan’s leadership, members of the cabinet, youth leaders, civil society representatives and other stakeholders.
“The Commonwealth Secretary-General, who has been a staunch advocate for supporting Pakistan in meeting the adverse impacts of climate change, will reaffirm her solidarity with Pakistan, as it marks the second anniversary of the catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and caused more than $30 billion in damage. She is also likely to tour some of the areas that were affected by the floods,” Abbasi said.
He added that during the Secretary General’s visit, the two sides would also 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.
Abbasi noted that with 2023/24 designated the ‘Year of Youth’ by the Commonwealth and Pakistan chairing the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting, the Secretary-General will receive extensive briefings on the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and highlight the opportunities Commonwealth membership brings to young people.
He added that as one of the organisation’s founding members, Pakistan values the Commonwealth as an important forum for forging consensus on global issues and challenges.
The visit of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Abbasi said, would provide an important opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the Commonwealth.
