ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s support to the UAE for hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28.
President-designate of COP28 Dr Sultan Al Jaber, who also serves as UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Minister for Industries and Technologies, visited Pakistan and discussed matters of mutual concern during his meetings with the prime minister and Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman.
During the visit, Dr Al Jaber called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed bilateral matters as well as regional and international issues of common interest, with particular reference to the climate change agenda.
The prime minister expressed confidence in the President-designate’s stewardship of the important conference.
The UAE official appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in combating adverse effects of climate change as one of the most impacted countries. He also expressed United Arab Emirates’ keen interest to invest in renewable energy projects in Pakistan. The two sides signed an MOU, in the Prime Minister’s presence, outlining a roadmap of such investment in Pakistan.
Dr Al Jaber also held a meeting with Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rahman. The minister congratulated the President-designate on UAE’s hosting the next COP 28 and briefed him on Pakistan’s concerns in the wake of global climate change.
Both sides discussed prospective solutions to the problems emanating from these changes, including operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund created at COP 27 in Sharm-Al-Sheikh last year.
Dr Al Jaber also addressed diplomats, academics, students and civil society representatives at the Foreign Service Academy. Sharing his vision as the President-designate, he said that COP28 would be an inclusive and transformative platform for mitigating global climate woes. He also held a meeting with youth delegates from COP youth programme during the visit.
President-designate’s visit provided an opportunity for substantive engagement between Pakistan and the UAE in important areas, including climate change and alternative energy.
It would help strengthen the mutual trust and beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE on salient issues on the global agenda.
