A High-level delegation from Pakistan participated virtually at a major international conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a multilateral effort to reform agrifood systems across the Asia-Pacific region after years of the pandemic, climate emergencies, volatile markets, and economies that have affected millions of producers and consumers.
The Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC37) is convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The delegation from Pakistan comprised of Government of Pakistan’s nominated Economic Consultant in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Dr Haroon Sarwar Awan, FAO Representative in Pakistan Florence Rolle, Deputy FAO Representative a.i. Emmanuel Moncada and Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) Aamer Irshad.
Highlighting the importance of APRC for Pakistan, FAO Representative in Pakistan Florence said that this country’s high-level participation in this important conference will help guide FAO’s work here in Pakistan and right across the Asia and Pacific region, as all FAO Member Nations share a common goal of achieving the SDGs by 2030, particularly those goals relating to hunger, poverty and inequality.
Dr Haroon, while speaking during the meeting, informed that Asia-Pacific LDCs, including Pakistan, grapple with looming debt distress, necessitating a departure from short-term crisis responses to strategic investments. We emphasize that it’s time for the global community to redirect its focus towards long-term solutions, with a spotlight on financing, gender empowerment in agriculture, and increased credit for smallholders, he emphasized.
There are 46 FAO Member Nations in Asia and the Pacific. Hundreds of high-level participants are registering for a senior official’s meeting (31 January to 2 February – virtually), and a Ministerial Session from 19 to 22 February (in-person). The FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu, is expected to travel from FAO headquarters in Rome to participate in the Ministerial Session.
Not just another meeting most of the issues to be discussed are of vital interest to Pakistan. Ministerial roundtable discussions such as securing future food and nutrition, following lessons learned from the above convergent crises; investment and financing for poverty reduction and modernization, and lessons learned in saving water and food and reducing loss and waste – all have a common interest across the region.
