During a press conference in London, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar underscored the global recognition of nuclear and hydro energy as secure energy sources. He revealed his active participation in a nuclear energy meeting held in Brussels, where he raised crucial issues concerning nuclear energy.
Dar highlighted the substantial support garnered for his stance from various global leaders during the Brussels meeting. He reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding vision for nuclear energy dating back to the 1960s, emphasizing its continued commitment despite global scrutiny.
He pointed out that previous governments, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had successfully completed several nuclear projects, contributing 3800 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
At the recent nuclear energy summit in Brussels, Dar advocated for aggressive financing from international financial institutions and multilateral bodies to support nuclear energy projects.
While acknowledging the costliness of nuclear energy, he stressed its environmental friendliness and the imperative for its adoption to combat climate change. Pakistan, he emphasized, was prepared to share its expertise in this field with the global community.
Despite emitting less than one percent of global carbon emissions, Pakistan ranked among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable nations, as evidenced by devastating floods in recent years. The government, in collaboration with provinces, allocated significant resources for flood relief and rehabilitation efforts.
During sideline meetings at the nuclear energy summit, Dar engaged with foreign ministers from Turkey, Azerbaijan, UAE, and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Agreements were reached to enhance cooperation in various sectors such as trade, investment, defense, and economy.
Dar also highlighted productive discussions with the Chinese Vice President, reaffirming China’s steadfast support for Pakistan across all fronts.
Additionally, meetings with UK ministers resulted in agreements for increased British investment in development projects within Pakistan. Dar extended his best wishes to King Charles and the Princess of Wales, who were reportedly battling cancer.
Responding to questions regarding Congressional hearings in the United States concerning Pakistan, Dar urged unity among Pakistanis abroad, emphasizing the need to set aside politics.
On the topic of elections, Dar emphasized the constitutional and legal framework governing electoral processes, urging acceptance of election outcomes and recourse to legal channels for addressing grievances.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s policy successes, Dar credited the Nawaz Sharif government for reducing inflation, fostering economic growth, and earning recognition from international financial institutions.
He also called for condemnation from Afghan leadership for terrorist attacks originating from groups based in Afghanistan, citing Pakistan’s intelligence-based anti-terror operations in the region.
In conclusion, Dar highlighted positive developments such as cooperation between the federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to regional stability and progress.