Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari underscored the importance of bolstering cooperation with the Commonwealth, particularly in areas like climate change, education, and disaster preparedness, during a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland at Aiwan-e-Sadr today. The President emphasized fostering deeper ties through parliamentary exchanges and youth engagement to strengthen relationships with member states.

According to Press Information Department, the discussion with Secretary-General Scotland focused heavily on the significant impact of climate change on Pakistan. President Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives, including the planting of over 2 million mangroves in Sindh, which not only combat climate change effects but also generated substantial revenue through carbon credit trading. Additionally, he detailed the construction of 2 million flood-resilient houses in response to the devastating 2022 floods.

Secretary-General Scotland acknowledged Pakistan’s severe challenges due to climate change, recognizing the country as one of the most vulnerable to its effects. She expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s ongoing support of the Commonwealth’s efforts and lauded the President’s advocacy for addressing climate impacts, which has been crucial in the wake of recent environmental disasters.