ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is all set to attend the five-day long Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London which is due to start from April 16 (Monday).
The title of the 25th CHOGM is “Towards a Common Future” and its main goals are prosperity, security, fairness and sustainability.
The leaders of the Commonwealth countries during the summit will discuss trade and investment matters, as these countries are home to half of the globe’s top emerging cities and have a combined population of 2.4 billion people. By working together, they can promote trade and investment as a means to drive economic growth, create jobs and ensure the prosperity of the citizens.
In addition to this, the unprecedented security threats countries face are a shared issue of the century which will also be addressed as challenges of terrorism, organised crime, cyber-crime, violent extremism and human trafficking defy borders and can only be addressed through increased multilateral action and cooperation. Among others, climate change will also be on the agenda of discussions.
The moot will aim to build links between countries to offer young people access to knowledge and skills, and give them a voice on key issues such as democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Sources said that the prime minister will attend the Commonwealth Women Forum on April 17, while on April 18 he will take part in the Asian Leaders’ Roundtable titled “Can Asia keep growing?” He will also join the welcome reception followed by a dinner to be hosted by British Prime Minister Theresa May in the afternoon.
On April 19, PM Abbasi will attend the formal opening of the CHOGM and the official welcome to be hosted by British prime minister. On April 20, Abbasi will attend three retreat sessions and the closing executive session of the summit.
On April 21, he will join a reception for the participating Commonwealth heads of government and the Queen’s birthday party concert to be organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS).
Sources also informed that the Pakistani premier will also attend the concluding ceremony of a joint military exercise named ‘Gulf Shield-1’ in Dammam of Saudi Arabia on April 16, 2018.
