Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated on Monday that Pakistan is committed to collaborating with the Commonwealth to advance its goals of connectivity, education, youth and women empowerment, and climate resilience.

During a joint press conference with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland following their meeting, Dar emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening and modernizing the Commonwealth to address 21st-century challenges. He also underscored Pakistan’s active role in fostering unity among member states.

Dar praised the secretary-general, currently on her first five-day visit to Pakistan, for her dedicated service over her eight-year term and her efforts to promote the Commonwealth’s values and mission. He commended her contributions to fostering cooperation in education, youth empowerment, capacity building, and climate action, as well as her support for Pakistan after the recent floods, notably through the appointment of a climate finance advisor for Pakistan.

Dar called for the Commonwealth to address outstanding disputes among member states more urgently and to push for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.

He noted that Pakistan’s vision of regional connectivity aligns with that of the Commonwealth, highlighting the extensive opportunities for collaboration in areas such as education, skills development, youth and women empowerment, health, and environmental preservation.

Dar informed the secretary-general that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif looks forward to attending the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 in Apia, Samoa, in October. He also mentioned his plans to engage with counterparts during the Commonwealth foreign ministers meeting in September.

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland praised Pakistan’s ongoing support for the Commonwealth, especially during her tenure. She remarked that her visit was to observe and celebrate Pakistan’s recovery from the 2022 floods, which affected over 33 million people and displaced two million.

She commended Pakistan’s commitment to Commonwealth principles as the organization strives towards a digitized and AI-enabled world. With 65% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, she emphasized their crucial role in shaping the future of the Commonwealth.

In response to a question, Dar affirmed Pakistan’s dedication to values like peace and development through dialogue and respect for sovereignty. He viewed the Commonwealth as a platform for building consensus on critical issues. Given Pakistan’s geostrategic location, he envisioned it as a regional trade hub, which would create jobs and foster win-win cooperation. Dar also praised Secretary-General Scotland’s vision of increasing intra-Commonwealth trade to $2 trillion by 2030.

Addressing a query, the secretary-general noted that the Commonwealth, comprising 2.7 billion people or one-third of the global population, facilitates trade more efficiently than other nations. She also highlighted the Commonwealth’s efforts to combat all forms of discrimination and promote fairness and equality for all, including girls and women.