Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announces US$100,000/- for the newly established Commonwealth Youth Council

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif announced a special donation of US$100,000/- at the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo for the newly established Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC). The contribution, which demonstrates the importance Pakistan attaches to the youth agenda, is intended to fund the youth-led development projects of the CYC in its early years.

The Commonwealth Youth Council was formally launched during the 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum held on the margins of the Commonwealth Summit. The newly established autonomous youth-led body would serve as the representative voice of 1.2 billion young people in the Commonwealth and would provide a framework for youth-led development initiatives. The Government of Sri Lanka has offered to host the Secretariat of CYC.

Earlier speaking on the agenda item relating to “Climate Change Financing”, the Prime Minister stated that climate change was a defining reality of our times and called for a multi-pronged and revitalized global partnership for generating the needed financing to confront its effects. In this regard, he proposed formation of global policies to motivate private sector, enhanced availability of grants and soft loans to the public sector and early operationalization of the “Green Climate Fund”.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also held a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Mr. Tony Abbott on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Summit. During the meeting, issues of common interests came under discussion.

Prime Minister is leading Pakistan delegation to the Commonwealth Summit. He is being assisted by Mr. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Ms. Anusha Rehman, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication and Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani, Foreign Secretary.

Ref >> Asian Tribune - http://www.asiantribune.com/node/67049