Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurshid Alam said that gender equality and the empowerment of women are vital to addressing the world’s unprecedented intertwined global crises from food insecurity and climate change to conflict, fragility, and violence, to sluggish economic growth. While addressing a curtain-raiser press conference here on Friday regarding a two-day meeting of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (APFFD) on ‘Gender Empowerment and Green Economy’ starting from Monday, she highlighted the role of parliamentarians in advancing both gender empowerment and a green economy crucial in achieving women’s socio-economic empowerment and gender equality in all spheres of society for achieving sustainable development goals, particularly related to education, health, sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, water and sanitation, clean energy and decent work. Spelling out the core objectives of the crucial Asian parliamentarians’ conference, the PM’s climate aide Ms Alam said that the event aims to deepen understanding of the gendered dimensions of climate change and the green economy; explore the vulnerabilities and strengths of women in these sectors with a focus on promoting gender-responsive policies that ensure equal access to resources, land rights, and financial services; examine successful legislative frameworks in Asian countries that promote women’s participation in green sectors; foster collaboration among parliamentarians to create a network committed to gender-responsive green policies; and facilitate knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning, which are vital for advancing gender equality and sustainable development. She said that in many countries, women are the champions of green economy, practising sustainable agriculture, nurturing our natural resources and promoting renewable energy. And, this is what Pakistan, too, in support with parliamentarians from Asia region is seeking to promote by mainstreaming gender equality across its foreign policy and development assistance programmes, working with all governments, communities and civil society in Asia region to establish and achieve gender equality for achieving green economy goals. The meeting will convene more than 20 parliamentarians from AFPPD member countries, enhancing Pakistan's image and reinforcing our ambitious role in the areas of climate action, gender equality, and the green economy. Sharing the details of the Parliamentarian’s meeting, Romina Khurshid Alam said that in light of the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994, the two-day international meeting of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) would focus on integrating gender equality into the green economy to foster sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. The meeting would also provide to the participants with a timely opportunity to reflect on and renew our commitments to gender equality and sustainable development, she emphasised. The PM’s climate aide said further that the conference would bring together parliamentarians and experts to explore effective legislative frameworks, promote gender-responsive policies and build collaborative networks to enhance women's participation in green sectors. With sessions covering various key thematic topics including gender equality, climate change, economic participation and policymaking, the meeting basically aims to roll out actionable strategies and foster cooperation across the Asian region through parliamentarians. Besides, the event would also include study visits to local centers addressing health and climate change, providing participants with practical insights into the challenges and opportunities in gender empowerment within the green economy, Romina Khurshid Alam added. She also informed the media that key discussions during the course of the meeting would seek to highlight the role of women in green sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and conservation, highlighting both the barriers they face and their critical contributions to environmental sustainability. Highlighting the significance of the conference, Romina Khurshid Alam said, “For Pakistan, hosting this meeting is a crucial opportunity to demonstrate our leadership in integrating gender considerations into our national climate strategies.” “Our participation as host of the Conference underscores our commitment to gender empowerment within the green economy and aligns with our broader climate action goals,” she added. Romina Khurshid Alam Pakistan is at the forefront of climate action, with initiatives like the Green Pakistan Program, Climate Smart Agriculture, GLOF, Integrated Water Resource Management, Solarization, and Recharge Pakistan which address environmental concerns while emphasizing women's inclusion in these efforts. However, this meeting would also provide a platform to showcase Pakistan’s case and share our experiences with other countries, PM’s aide Ms. Alam highlighted. AFPPD is a network of parliamentarians in Asia-Pacific region based in Tokyo, Japan. It serves as a forum and coordinating body of 30 National Committees of Parliamentarians on population and development initiatives.
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