BY: ANI Correspondent:
LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey at Marlborough House in London and discussed ways to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with the Commonwealth.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s strong commitment to the Commonwealth as a founding member, Ishaq Dar underscored Pakistan’s support for the Secretary-General’s vision and efforts to strengthen the organisation.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth’s youth, climate resilience and economic development agendas, as well as promoting intra-Commonwealth trade through institutionalised cooperation in the banking sector.
Highlighting Pakistan’s expertise in climate mitigation and disaster management, the Deputy Prime Minister renewed Pakistan’s offer to host the Commonwealth Disaster Resilience Hub at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Islamabad.
Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey welcomed the offer and expressed the Secretariat’s interest in working with Pakistan to strengthen disaster preparedness capabilities across Commonwealth member states.
The two leaders also agreed to further strengthen cooperation on youth development and enhance youth-related activities across the Commonwealth under Pakistan’s co-chairmanship of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting (CYMM).
Ishaq Dar also briefed the Secretary-General on recent developments in the Middle East, including Pakistan’s role in brokering peace between the United States and Iran.
Secretary-General Botchwey felicitated Pakistan and Ishaq Dar for his efforts and mediation between the United States and Iran, thanking him for helping avert a destructive war and contributing to peace and stability in the region.
