Amid political tensions surrounding the 26th constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is unlikely to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa. In his place, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to leave for Samoa on Sunday night, though his departure depends on progress with the pending legislation.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is also set to attend the summit, potentially creating an opportunity for Pakistan and India to hold discussions in Samoa.
According to the Commonwealth’s official website, CHOGM is held every two years, rotating among member nations. The 2022 summit took place in Rwanda, and Samoa will host this year’s event from October 21 to 26.
Last month, King Charles III personally invited PM Shehbaz to attend the summit during a phone conversation. PM Shehbaz accepted, emphasizing the importance of this being the first CHOGM chaired by King Charles since he assumed leadership of the Commonwealth in September 2022.
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth and the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. He also looked forward to discussions on climate change, especially given Pakistan’s vulnerability to environmental disasters. In 2022, the country suffered catastrophic floods, which claimed 1,700 lives, impacted 33 million people, and caused $30 billion in damages, highlighting the urgent need for climate action.
