Islamabad : 5th November 2022:  Message received from Argentina.

A Parliamentary delegation led by Deputy Speaker National Assembly Zahid Akram Durrani visited Buenos Aires, Argentina to attend the 43 Annual Forum of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) & 12th Consultative Assembly of
Parliamentarians on the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law (CAP-ICC).

Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of Commerce Pakistan and Chair of PGA International Council was prominent among the distinguished delegates. MNAs Mr. Muhammad Junaid, Mr Anwar Chaudhary,  Mohsin Dawar,  Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon  were also part of the delegation.

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) contributes to creating an enabling environment for positive changes, especially through activities that facilitate connections between civil society and parliamentarians, as well as building bridges between domestic and international policymakers and stakeholders. The 43rd Annual Forum of PGA and 12 Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on ICC were inaugurated by Speaker of the Chamber of the Deputies of Argentina H.E Cecilia Moreau. Prominent Speakers included Honourable Kasthuri Patto, MP (Malaysia). President of PGA, Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute and Judge Piotr Hofmanski, President of the International Criminal Court.

Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Commerce & Investment, Chaired the session on the universality of the Rome Statute and expansion of the International Criminal Law Framework.

NA Deputy Speaker, Minister for Commerce & Investment and other members of the delegation also visited the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI). A Roundtable discussion on Climate Change and recent floods in Pakistan was organized by the topmost Argentine thinktank. Ambassador Ricardo Lagorio, Secretary General of CARI welcomed the delegation. Prominent among other attendees were Mr. Juan Battaleme, Academic Secretary, Dr. Jorge Malena, Director Asia Committee, Dra. Lia Rodriguez De la Vega, Under Director, Asia Committee of CARI.

Syed Naveed Qamar stated that Pakistan and Argentina enjoyed a shared world view and common perspective on issues of global concern. Pakistan is among the top ten countries most impacted by climate change. The country is on the front lines of the adverse impacts of climate change. In 2022, Pakistan grappled with extreme heat, with 3-5-degree Celsius higher temperatures than the average. That led to melting of glaciers, cloud bursts and torrential rains, three to five times more than the thirty-year average rainfall. Resultantly, Pakistan faced floods of epic proportions, which is the most dreadful manifestation of climate-induced disasters.

Highlighting the widespread damages caused by the recent rains and floods, Syed Naveed Qamar mentioned that thirty-three million people have been affected in Pakistan. Around 1,700 people had lost their lives and around 7.9 million people had been displaced in Pakistan. The food security of 14.6 million people has been at stake. He reminded that no single country could address the challenges posed by Climate Change. He stressed for enhanced global climate action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. He asked the industrialized countries to fulfil their climate finance commitments.

A reception was hosted by H.E. Dr. Muhammad Khalid Ejaz, Ambassador of Pakistan in Argentina for the visiting parliamentary delegation which was attended by a large number of senior government officials, people from thinktanks, civil society, and media. Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Zahid Akram Durrani stated that Parliamentary Friendship Groups and exchanges between Pakistan and Argentina provide wonderful opportunities for engagement among the parliamentarians. The Honourable Deputy Speaker welcomed the establishment of the Friendship Group for Asia in the Argentine Senate in October 2022. He welcomed the visit of the Argentine parliamentarians to Islamabad at an appropriate timeframe. He mentioned that enhanced people to people contacts could deepen Pakistan-Argentina bilateral relations. He also stated that Pakistan has added Argentina in its list of Business-Friendly Countries (BFC) whereby a Visa on Arrival for up to 30 days is given to Argentine businesspeople.

The visit of the Parliamentary delegation from Pakistan provided an opportunity for exchange of views with members of parliament, think tanks, civil society, government officials, media personnel and members of the Pakistani community.