The Prime Minister said co-operation should be provided to underdeveloped countries to overcome the challenges of climate change. He said Pakistan was hit by climate change badly and Himalayan Glaciers are melting very quickly as compared to other parts of the world. "We are adopting environment-friendly policies to overcome climate degradation," he said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also attended a banquet hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for the heads of government of Commonwealth countries and their spouses. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also met with the newly elected Secretary General of Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, on the sidelines of CHOGM, and greeted her on election to the post.
Baroness Scotland expressed gratitude for the support extended by Pakistan during the election. She said that Pakistan was an important member of the Commonwealth and looked forward to working closely with Pakistan. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan attached importance to Commonwealth, particularly the core values of democracy, freedom, peace, the rule of law, and opportunity for all. The Prime Minister extended Baroness Scotland an invitation to visit Pakistan at her earliest convenience.
Begum Kalsoom Nawaz accompanied the Prime Minister to the dinner, which was also attended by the members of the royal family. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on Monday. Briefing newsmen in Islamabad about the mega event, Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said the prime minister will also deliver a speech at the Leaders Event that day. He said during the Paris conference Pakistan will highlight its vulnerability to the prevailing and future threats emanating from climate change. Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the Executive Session of the 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to review the agenda of global development and challenges.
The closed-door session held at Malta's Golden Sands resort offshore Mediterranean Sea was attended by heads of government and representatives from 53 Commonwealth member countries, who discussed and approved the agenda earlier provisionally adopted at the Senior Officials Meeting in London on October 21, 2015. Malta's Foreign Minister George William Vella presented the report on pre-CHOGM meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting. PM's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry were also present. Later, the Prime Minister along with other leaders voted for CHOGM's new Secretary General through straw poll - an adhoc or unofficial vote that provides dialogue among movements within larger groups.