Kigali, 24 June 2022 (TDI): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar paid an official visit to Kigali, Rwanda to lead Pakistan’s delegation to the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

She also attended the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting on June 23rd.
While addressing this meeting Minister of State underscored the centrality of the UN Charter.

Furthermore, she highlighted that the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting for this year must reaffirm faith in fundamental values of peace and prosperity among nations at a time when democracy, rule of law, and good governance are under siege.

On the sidelines of the event, she will also hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.

She also met with a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon. Both of them discussed the importance of Pakistan-UK relations.

Matters including further growing business-to-business links, strengthening human rights, and how to make the commonwealth stronger came under discussion.

The Pakistan Minister of State will present the country’s perspective at the plenary as well as other discussions during this important Commonwealth event which could not be held in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Pakistan working with Commonwealth

The last CHOGM took place in London in 2018.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan raised the matters of collective interest and focused on the role of the Commonwealth in economic development, government, and social development to realize the shared vision of a prosperous and secure future.

Pakistan was one of the eight founding members of the Commonwealth. It considers its legacy with Commonwealth as an important factor in its national development.

Pakistan has trade relations with several commonwealth countries. It has a Free Trade Agreement and a Partial Trade agreement with Commonwealth nations.

Pakistan is also a part of the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games.