WASHINGTON: The United States and Pakis­tan will hold talks on environmental issues from Thursday (today), soon after a two-day discussion on energy-related issues.

Earlier, the US State Department announced that the country’s special envoy for biodiversity and water resources, Monica Medina, would travel to Islamabad and Karachi this week for a second bilateral meeting.

On Wednesday, Pakis­tan and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to promoting econo­mic growth, energy security, partnership in long-term flood rehabilitation efforts, and strengthening their overall relationship.

The bilateral ties were discussed in a meeting be­­tween Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US Assistant Secretary of Sta­te for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt in Islam­a­bad. Mr Pyatt is leading a delegation to Pakistan for the Pak-US Energy Security Dialogue.

In Washington, the Sta­te Department said that during her three-day stay in Pakistan from March 15 to 17, Ms Medina would participate in the US-Pakistan Climate and Environment Working Group meeting. She will address climate and environmental issues of concern, including climate smart agriculture, water management, air quality, conservation, and plastic pollution.

Experts blame environmental issues, particularly global warming, for last summer’s flooding that crippled the Pakistani economy.

While in Pakistan, Ms Medina will engage with government counterparts as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.

The talks will focus on strengthening support for actions that tackle the biodiversity crisis, build resi­l­­ience to impacts of the cli­­mate crisis such as floo­d­i­­ng, elevate women in this field, advance clean energy goals, and enhance science and technology coopera­tion.­

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2023