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PRIME MINISTER SYED YOUSUF RAZA GILANI WILL ATTEND CHOGM IN PERTH
PAKISTAN’S DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER VISITS PERTH FOR CHOGM 2011 ORIENTATION
(Dr. Mavara Inayat’s Exclusive Report to Sada-e-Watan Sydney)

 Perth, the city of lights is buzzing with festive expectations of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October this year. Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Tasawar Khan was in Perth mid-July onwards to attend the preparation briefings on the upcoming CHOGM in Perth from 26-28 October 2011. CHOGM - a biennial event– will be attended by more than 50 Commonwealth heads of government. This year, it will be marked by the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Perth. The event will be held at the scale of Commonwealth Games and will be remembered as the biggest affair in the WA Capital city since the celebrated event of America’s Cup. Due to its significance, the occasion will require special security measures such as getting hundreds of new recruits and even getting help from New-Zealand police force. This event will put Perth and Western Australia at the centre of world affairs.    

 Mr. Tasawar Khan confirmed that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will be attending the Commonwealth Summit from 26-28 October. He stated that the theme for this year’s CHOGM is building national resilience and building global resilience. Perth’s Kings Park has been chosen as the retreat for the Commonwealth heads of government. According to him, the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Round Table will be held prior to the Commonwealth Summit. CHOGM will be celebrated by festivals, musical concerts, sports and other significant forums in Perth.

Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) 2011 will offer an opportunity to all the participating countries to expand their mutual trade and investment. The CBF will take place from 25-27 October. This forum will be organized by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) in collaboration with Australian and WA governments along with the private sector. Pakistan will have a unique opportunity at the forum to conduct business with international partners, to network with the government and business leaders as well as to influence the debate on important trade and investment issues.

Commonwealth Youth Forum 2011 will invite young people and their organisations to interact with each other. The youth will also be heard by the Commonwealth heads of the government through the circulation of final communiqué from the youth forum. Like the youth from other commonwealth states, Pakistani youth organisations will give their insights into commonwealth and stress the issues that matter to them the most. Creating higher education opportunities for Pakistani youth in other commonwealth countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, networking with the youth of the commonwealth states, the need to share science and technology as well as greater participation in sports can be highlighted at this forum. Then, People’s Forum will be held just prior to CHOGM to strengthen linkages between civil society organisations, private and public sectors and youth. Moreover, dialogue will be held between the civil society and government ministers on priority issues in the Commonwealth. Significantly, the inputs from People’s Forum will be presented for discussion at the Round Table with Foreign Ministers. This Forum can bring the civil society and leaders close to each other through the sharing of ideas. Sporting events that are planned before CHOGM will take place between 20 to 23 October. These include Netball and Hockey matches. Significantly, Pakistan will participate in the hockey tournament called International Super Series in which teams from Australia, New Zealand, India and Malaysia will also compete.

In a warm friendly meeting on 18 July, the Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Tasawar Khan, Ms Shahzadi Samar Rukh, Dr. Mavara Inayat and Dr. Aazar Tamana discussed the details concerning CHOGM. Ms Shahzadi Samar Rukh is the executive producer of Urdu radio program ‘Dildar Pakistan’ on Perth World Radio 6eba 95.3FM. Dr. Aazar Tamana, a specialist on global terrorism and US-Pakistan relations, pointed out that CHOGM 2011 offers good trade opportunities for Pakistan. He stressed that building Pakistan’s national resilience directly leads to global resilience because Pakistan’s political, societal and economic security is intricately linked to global security. As such, the Commonwealth leaders must endeavour to increase Pakistan’s national resilience at political, economic and societal levels. Mr. Tasawar Khan emphasised that Pakistan has been a resilient nation against all odds and that the vision of the leadership is crucial to the future progress of the country. Within this context, all Pakistanis living in Australia are enthusiastically looking forward to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s visit to Australia this October 2011.

              Dr. Aazar Tamana, Ms Shahzadi Samar Rukh, Dr. Mavara Inayat and Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Tasawar Khan

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