ISLAMABAD: The Swedish government on Friday expressed interest in working with Pakistan in sharing the best practices to address environmental challenges, biogas production and energy transition, and recycling domestic wastewater so it could be re-used for various purposes including agriculture.

The offer came when the Swedish ambassador Henrik Persson called on Minister of Climate Change Sherry Rehman and offered support towards helping Pakistan overcome environmental challenges and mitigate risks being faced by the country, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Climate Change.

The Swedish ambassador said that his government was aware that Pakistan was vulnerable to climate change and the impact this may have on the lives and livelihoods of people in the agricultural sector, which was the backbone of the country’s economy.

The Swedish government had initiated joint programmes with governments in developing countries, where people, their livelihoods and various socio-economic sectors were increasingly exposed to climate shocks, particularly floods, depleting groundwater resources, crop failures, potable water shortages and energy supply, he informed Ms Rehman.

She expressed gratitude for the ambassador’s offer.

She said the government was committed towards reducing emissions, environmental development and enhancing the country’s climate resilience, adding any opportunity of collaboration was encouraging.

“We would, surely, jointly work with the Swedish government and welcome any support in transferring technical know-how and building technical capacity of relevant stakeholders that support the implementation of the country’s green policies,” Ms Rehman told the ambassador.

Earlier, the Swedish ambassador informed the minister that this year his country was hosting events for World Environment Day, which is observed every year on June 5, globally.

He said that various activities had been planned by his embassy that would happen in Islamabad.The ambassador invited the minister to join World Environment Day celebrations and a conference in Stockholm.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2022