Commonwealth Heads: PM Gilani calls for ‘collective resilience’

Despite all these enormous challenges, our courageous nation stands united and steadfast, says Gilani.

PERTH: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday that Pakistan was a courageous nation with unmatched resolve, while urging the commonwealth countries to be more relevant to the needs of its members by being more resilient.

Gilani was speaking at the second Executive Session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was officially inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II earlier in the day at the Perth Exhibition and Convention Centre.

“Building a resilient Commonwealth is necessary if we are to grip the numerous challenges we are faced with as individual states, as well as collectively on the global plane,” the PM said, while addressing the gathering.

He also mentioned a series of natural calamities Pakistan has been facing and said that the challenges had become global.

“It is, therefore, essential to evolve and put in place appropriate well-integrated mechanisms at local, national and international levels. Without this, our efforts may not yield much,” he added.

Gilani further informed them about the country’s unprecedented loss of over 35,000 precious lives, as well as economic losses running close to $70 billion due to the ongoing war on terrorism.

“Despite all these enormous challenges, our courageous nation stands united and steadfast, demonstrating unparallel attributes of national resilience and resolve,” he said.

“Whether it is climate change or terrorism, disease or food insecurity, we need each other not only for addressing our present challenges, but also to ensure a better future for posterity,” the premier concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2011.