Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been invited by King Charles III of Great Britain to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled for this October in Samoa. The meeting, scheduled to be held from 21-26 October 2024, will be the first summit that King Charles would preside upon since he took over as the head of the Commonwealth in September 2022. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accepted the invitation with the mention that “it is a historical moment for the Commonwealth”.
CHOGM and Pakistan’s Commitment to the Commonwealth:
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is a biennial event attended by the heads of governments of Commonwealth countries. This year, at the summit held in Samoa, the emphasis is on sustainable development, strengthening institutions through democratic practice, and empowering youth in the Commonwealth. Pakistan re-committed itself to the Commonwealth Charter with renewed hope in its existence as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined the possible summits likely to be held under the Commonwealth’s aegis for further cooperation among its member states.
Climate Change and Sustainable Development :
Climate Change Talks to Pakistan Relate to History of Past Climate-Related Disasters
Pakistan lived through a record-breaking year of floods in 2022. Tainted by climate change, they engulfed nearly 33 million people, killed 1,700, and could potentially have incurred a loss amounting to about $30 billion. The country, already highly vulnerable to effects of climate change, looks forward to working with Commonwealth leaders on sustainable climate solutions.Relevance of the King Charles III with the Green Agenda:
PM Shehbaz Sharif said he was looking forward to talks with King Charles III, who is quite vocal on environmental and climate issues. The Prime Minister further said that addressing the climate crisis was imperative not only for Pakistan but the broader family of several Commonwealth countries facing the challenges of environmental threats.
Boosting Pakistan-UK relations:
Pakistan and the United Kingdom have a relationship deep in shared history, growing deeper with time. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated close ties between the two nations, noting that the British royal family has been friends of Pakistan for a long time. The Prime Minister also inquired after King Charles’s health and wished all the best to the Princess of Wales who had just concluded chemotherapy treatment recently.
Issues that have particular importance to the world will be under discussion in this iteration of the CHOGM, because global leaders are keenly concerned about climate change and sustainable development.
Pakistan under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has the potential for discussing issues of bilateral interest and strengthening ties among Commonwealth countries.
In a nutshell. The head of the political government of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, is invited by King Charles III to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will be held in Samoa this October.
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