Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to collaborating with the Commonwealth, focusing on youth empowerment, good governance, and climate change initiatives during a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and her delegation.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the discussions highlighted Pakistan’s demographic profile, with a significant portion of the population under 30, and the government’s targeted efforts through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme to provide modern education and technical training. This meeting marks Secretary-General Scotland’s first official visit to Islamabad, during which she commended the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif, particularly in relation to youth empowerment and initiatives aimed at enhancing governance and transparency within Pakistan’s public sector.

Further, the Prime Minister expressed his interest in implementing the Commonwealth’s Performance Management System to improve governance and accepted an invitation to join the Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium. This inclusion promises opportunities for Pakistan’s youth in areas like cloud computing and generative AI, aiming to bolster their roles in sustainable economic development.

Climate change was also a prominent agenda item, with Prime Minister Sharif emphasizing the need for global support for climate-vulnerable nations ahead of the forthcoming COP29 in Baku. The Commonwealth’s support post the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan was particularly noted, with hopes for continued international support in building climate resilience.

The leaders also looked ahead to the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, planning to coordinate on consensus-building and strategic directions for the Commonwealth under current global challenges. Prime Minister Sharif congratulated Secretary-General Scotland for her leadership during these transformative times.