Hina Rabbani Khar leads Pakistan delegation at CFAMM in Kigali, Rwanda

KIGALI, June 24 (SABAH): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar led the Pakistan delegation at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting (CFAMM) in Kigali, Rwanda on 23 June 2022. In addition to finalizing the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being held on 24 June, the CFAMM deliberated on the theme: Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming. Issues of common concern including sustainable and inclusive development, post Covid recovery and democracy, peace and governance came under discussion.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, addressing the Meeting, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar stated that as a family of democratic nations, the Commonwealth must reaffirm the centrality of the UN, and recognize the salience of democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights as the bedrocks of stability, peace and prosperity within and among nations. She stressed that these values, especially respect for human rights, including the right to self determination will only gain wider traction if they are applied universally and without discrimination. She further underscored that rights of one individual cannot take precedence over those of another. All must enjoy inherent and equal rights, and no distinction must be made on the basis of cast, colour, gender, faith or creed.

On the sidelines, the Minister of State held useful bilateral meetings with Lord Tariq Ahmad, the UK Minister for South Asia, Commonwealth and the UN; Foreign Minister of Jamaica Kamina Johnson Smith; Foreign Minister of Dominica Dr. Kenneth Darroux and Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone, Professor David J. Francis.

The Commonwealth is an organization of 54 states joined together by common values. The Heads of Government meeting is taking place after a hiatus of nearly four years, making it the first such Commonwealth gathering in the post Pandemic period.