Daily Times

LONDON: As the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM-2018) opened on Thursday in London, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi joined leaders of CW countries at a formal opening ceremony held at the Buckingham Palace.

The Queen-II of UK declared the summit of 53-member CHOGM open and in her remarks wished and believed that they would be able to hand over a more safer and prosperous world to the future generations. She hoped that the exchange of views and ideas by leaders at the CHOGM-2018, which was first in London in 40 years, will help augment the multi-sectoral cooperation among the 53 member countries that with their over 2.2 billion population make a major part of the world.

The opening ceremony was also addressed among others by Prince of Wales, British Prime Minister Theresa May, and Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland QC.

Prince Charles in his opening remarks expressed his belief that CHOGM-2018 will help revitalise the bonds among member countries with their renewed commitment to find solutions for the problems faced by the Commonwealth countries.

British Prime Minister Theresa May in her remarked highlighted the various problems faced by the CW countries and said there was a need to have enhanced cooperation among the members states in the areas of trade, economy, employment, healthcare, cybercrime etc.

A musical performance was also presented by vocalists from the six continents of CW countries.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anbasi upon arrival at the Buckingham Palace was presented guard of honour.

Later, the prime minister proceeded to the Friary Court where he was welcomed by the British prime minister and Commonwealth secretary general ahead of the start of the executive sessions at the Lancaster House. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also met Prince of Wales Charles Philip at the Clarence House. He felicitated the Prince of Wales on the UK’s successful holding of the CHOGM-2018. He said Pakistan, as a founding member, greatly valued the Commonwealth and welcomed the United Kingdom’s Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth for the next two years. The prime minister also appreciated the royal family’s patronage of global charities.

Prince Charles thanked Pakistan for its high level participation in the meeting. He also commended Pakistan’s valuable contribution to the Commonwealth.

During a meeting with senior officials of Peek Vision and CBM here on the sidelines of CHOGM-2018, Prime Minister Abbasi expressed his government’s clear commitment to eliminate preventable blindness from the country.

Peek Vision is a world leader in using smartphone technology and training healthcare workforces in developing countries to eliminate preventable blindness and poor vision, while CBM is an international non-governmental development organisation working in the field of disability globally for over 100 years with a major focus on eye care.

During the meeting, the discussion revolved around a major challenge of eliminating preventable blindness from Pakistan. It is estimated that there are more than eight million citizens of Pakistan that are suffering from preventable visual loss.

Peek Vision with CBM expressed their willingness to deploy their partnership to deliver the most advanced solutions for the identification, diagnosis and treatment management for Pakistani citizens using the country’s existing health infrastructure and staff. Prime Minister Abbasi invited Peek Vision to Pakistan and committed the full support of the government for a national program in this regard.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ali Jehangir Siddiqui and Pakistani High Commissioner to United Kingdom Syed Ibne Abbas were also present during the meeting.

Published in Daily Times, April 20^th 2018.