Food security & climate change joint fronts: Blome

Saqib Mushtaq
BAHAWALPUR: United States of America (USA) Ambassador Donald Blome visited South Punjab Secretariat on Friday and met Additional Chief Secretary Saqib Zafar while showed commitments for food security and countering climate change.
During the visit Consul General Christin Hawkins, Public Diplomacy Officer Karl Rogers, Economic Officer Douglas Justin, Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel, Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Maher Muhammad Hayat Lak, Secretary Services Engineer Amjad Shoaib Khan Tareen and Secretary Specialized Healthcare Afzal Nasir Khan were also present in the meeting.
The Additional Chief Secretary briefed US Ambassador about the profile, issues, history and culture of South Punjab and the objectives of establishing the South Punjab Secretariat. He told that the establishment of the Secretariat has accelerated the pace of development in the region but still there was a long way to go. He said efforts are on to increase the standard of living and literacy rate of the people and to eradicate poverty.
Additional Chief Secretary Saqib Zafar said that South Punjab is an important region in terms of food security and measures to increase agricultural production are yielding excellent results. He said South Punjab has vast potential in agriculture and livestock sector.
The Additional Chief Secretary said launch of Green Book in schools on climate change and establishment of transgender schools are distinctive initiatives of the Secretariat. He holding of School Olympics games among schools has gained a lot of acceptance and it has become a very popular event in the region. Saqib Zafar also told about the first rowing competition in the history of South Punjab held in Bahawalpur and said next boating competition will be held at the level of Punjab Province.
He informed that a plan has been drawn up to restore the historic forts located in Cholistan to their original shape. Saqib Zafar also briefied about the Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally and Thal Jeep Rally. American Ambassador Donald Blome declared the launch of Green Book about climate change in schools and the establishment of transgender schools as a wonderful initiatives. He said Climate change and food security are international issues and collective efforts are required to overcome on these issues. He further said Pakistan has the capacity to meet the food needs of the world.
The American Ambassador expressed his happiness on visiting the historic city of Multan and thanked the administration for hospitality. On this occasion, Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel gave a detailed briefing about the steps taken in the agriculture sector. The Additional Chief Secretary also presented a commemorative shield to the US Ambassador.