• At independence day event, PM Shehbaz hails ‘true and special relationship’ between Pakistan and US
• Vows to expand economic ties with Saudi Arabia
• Natalie Baker says Trump’s approach to Pakistan has been ‘direct, personal’
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have called for collective national and international action to address climate change and protect the environment.
In separate messages on the eve of World Environment Day, they reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience, urging citizens, institutions, and the global community to work together to safeguard public health, ensure food security, promote sustainable development, and build a greener future for coming generations.
“On World Environment Day, I call upon everyone to address the growing threat of climate change. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, glacier melt, water stress, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are no longer distant concerns. They are affecting lives and economies across the world today,” President Zardari said.
“It is a reminder that the decisions we make now will shape the quality of life of future generations. Climate change is not only an environmental challenge; it is also a challenge to our socio-economic well-being,” he noted. He added that environmental degradation has practical consequences for ordinary citizens. It can affect access to clean water, reduce agricultural productivity, disrupt livelihoods, and place additional strain on public services.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was joining the international community in renewing its resolve to protect the planet and ensure a sustainable future for coming generations.
He said this year’s theme, Climate Action, serves as a powerful reminder that effective international cooperation is indispensable for safeguarding the environment and addressing the escalating risks associated with climate change.
“The increasing environmental threats facing the planet underscore the urgent need for comprehensive global strategies and coordinated action,” the prime minister said.
‘Special’ US ties
Later, addressing an event marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, PM Shehbaz hailed the “true and special relationship” between Pakistan and the United States.
He noted that Islamabad and Washington had “worked closely at the most consequential moments of our history, whether it be the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s or the global war on terror from 2001–2021”.
“Last year, following India’s unprovoked aggression after the Pahalgam incident, it was President [Donald] Trump’s timely and most decisive intervention that resulted in a ceasefire between Pakistan and India on May 10, last year,” he said, referring to a brief four-day war between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
“We shall forever remain grateful to President Trump for restoring peace in South Asia and saving millions of people. In this context, he will always be remembered as a man of peace.”
Recalling the relationship between Islamabad and Washington, PM Shehbaz noted that the US was among the first countries to recognise Pakistan when then-US president Harry Truman sent a congratulatory letter to Quaid-i-Azam.
“Today, Pakistan is proudly, but humbly, playing a sincere role as mediator between the United States and Iran,” he stated. expressing gratitude for the trust “reposed in Pakistan by both these countries”.
US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker stated that Islamabad and Washington have embraced each other as “true strategic partners” under PM Shehbaz’s and President Trump’s leadership.
She noted that the relationship is “not just transactional, but a partnership grounded in mutual respect, aligned interests and a shared vision for security and prosperity”.
“President Trump’s approach to Pakistan has been direct, personal and consequential. From his earliest days back in office, he made clear that America’s engagement with Pakistan would be defined not by bureaucratic inertia or outdated assumptions, but by results, by deals made, crises managed and opportunities seized,”Ms Baker said.
“President Trump’s personal engagement, from welcoming the prime minister and field marshal to the White House, to picking up the phone at critical moments of regional crisis, reflects the conviction that runs deep within this administration: that a strong Pakistan is good for America, and a strong America is good for Pakistan.”
Earlier, in a meeting with a Saudi business delegation at PM House, the prime minister said Pakistan was keen to elevate its economic ties with Riyadh into a mutually beneficial economic partnership.
Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pak Joint Business Council, thanked the Prime Minister for the warm welcome and hospitality and expressed keen desire of the Saudi government as well as the business community to enhance B2B engagement with Pakistan across a number of areas.
They also expressed interest in investment in projects related to ports, highways, airports outsourcing, energy, power distribution, IT sector etc.
Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026