- Welcome to Pakistan
- Pakistan and the Commonwealth
- Pakistan has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1947, however it left temporarily in 1972, later rejoining in 1989
- Pakistan became an independent country on the 14th of August 1947
- Pakistan has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1954, and has won 60 medals in total
- Cricketers Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, both born in Lahore, Punjab, achieved the ‘all-rounder’s double’ and Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World
- This country hosts a national chapter of the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council
- Pakistan has experienced the fastest growth in mobile phone use in the Commonwealth; compound annual growth in subscriptions of 116% was recorded over 2002-07
- Rumman Faruqi, former Director of Economic Affairs, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Zahir Kaleem, Executive Director, Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators, established by Commonwealth finance ministers in 1978 to promote the improvement of tax administration
- Kasmala Tariq, a member of the Pakistan National Assembly since 2002, Chair, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 2007
- 1994 Twelfth Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Islamabad
His Excellency Mr Imran Khan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
I extend my felicitations to the Commonwealth of Nations website for providing representative information about member countries of the Commonwealth. Pakistan is one of the founding members of the Commonwealth and is very conscious of the wide ranging participation this prestigious international organisation enjoys.
Pakistan is part of the Commonwealth legacy that it considers important for national development. The democratic principles of governance form the unmistakable base assiduously adhered to by Commonwealth nations. Pakistan has once again embarked upon popular representative democratic path and is assiduously following it.
Pakistan is an important country of the south-west Asian region playing an important role in ensuring stability in the region. Pakistan is acutely aware of its responsibilities as a balancing country in a region long beset with instability that is now on the course of regaining peaceful composure due to widespread collaboration between all countries of the region.
Pakistan pursues equitable international relationship guided by the underlying principle of harmonious conduct of bilateral and multilateral affairs. My government seeks friendship all around and offers mutual co-operation.
Under my leadership Pakistan is actively pursuing a long-range economic revival and development programme aimed at removing bottlenecks hindering prosperity. This programme involves harnessing the local resources and combining them with overseas collaboration in order to achieve maximum development advantage.
My government is also endeavouring to bring about a pluralistic environment considered vital for all round development. I believe in the supreme right of people to decide national affairs. Pakistan can comfortably claim to be a country where public opinion is greatly respected in conduct of national and international affairs.
Pakistan regularly participates in the proceedings of the Commonwealth including CHOGM. I am confident that the co-operation between Pakistan and Commonwealth will increase in coming years. I am sure that our mutual co-operation will prove beneficial.
The above message was provided by the previous Prime Minister.
Pakistan in the Commonwealth
did you know?
Senior Commonwealth officers
Commonwealth meetings hosted
Commonwealth Projects
Assessment Mission to Pakistan (2007/08)
This mission, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat, involved meeting with the Electoral Commission of Pakistan to discuss arrangements for a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG). Meetings were also held with the main political parties and civil society to assess whether there would be broad support for the presence of Commonwealth observers and making initial organisational arrangements for a COG.
Small Industries ICT Competitiveness Development (2007/08)
Technical assistance was provided on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat to the Sindh Provincial Government of Pakistan to improve the global competitiveness of SMEs in the handicraft sector. The strategy was to improve access to finance, marketing and distribution services, and also supported the use of ICT by handicraft SMEs. Through this support the assistance played a meaningful role in poverty alleviation and the development of women-owned SMEs.
Assistance to Pakistan Regional Dialogue on Elections (2005/06)
Five experts from regional domestic observer bodies attended a regional workshop on ‘best electoral practices’ held by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency.
Integrated Marketing Programme for Women Entrepreneurs in Britain and Germany (1993)
The Commonwealth was involved in a major trade promotion event involving product upgrading and adaptation, market investigations and test marketing, and an export mission of eight women entrepreneurs to establish commercial contact with British and German buyers. In all nine women participated in this project, and the project met its objectives.
Technical and Vocational (Environment) Expert, National Institute of Science and Technology (1999)
This advisory project, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat, involved the appointment of a long-term expert to the National Institute of Science and Technology to assist in reviewing curricula and integrating environment components into training programmes, as well as training teachers.
Pakistan
in the Commonwealth Yearbook
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