ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend the New Global Financial Pact Summit in Paris, aimed at addressing climate change and the challenges faced by debt-burdened nations, according to a local news channel report on Monday.
The Paris Summit, to be held from June 22 to 23, 2023, is being hosted by France with the objective of establishing a new global financing architecture beyond the Bretton Woods system. The summit aims to address issues related to climate change, biodiversity crisis, and development challenges.
The two-day summit will bring together around 50 heads of state and government, serving as a platform for sharing ideas in preparation for upcoming major economic and climate meetings in the following months.
Agenda of Paris Summit
The agenda of the summit includes discussions on lending, taxation, and the potential structural overhaul of international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
In line with this significant gathering, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to embark on a three-day official visit to Paris, commencing on Wednesday, June 21.
During his visit, the prime minister will actively participate in the summit, presenting Pakistan’s framework for managing floods and natural disasters. Additionally, it is reported that PM Shehbaz is expected to hold a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss mutual interests and areas of collaboration.
The visit comes at a crucial time when Pakistan has been grappling with the adverse effects of climate change, with over 33 million people affected by heavy rains and flash floods, as highlighted by Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Atta Marri. The minister emphasized that climate change is a significant threat to humanity, impacting millions of people, including pregnant women and children.
With global attention turning towards climate change, there is hope that the seriousness demonstrated by the international community will translate into tangible actions to address this pressing issue.
