In light of the political situation arising from the 26th constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is unlikely to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

As a result, sources said that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to depart for Samoa on Sunday night. But his departure for the Pacific Island of Samoa is contingent on any positive developments regarding the legislation.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is also expected to attend the Commonwealth summit. If Dar departs, it will mark another occasion for the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India to meet in Samoa.

According to the Commonwealth’s website, government heads meet every two years for the CHOGM, hosted by different member countries on a rotating basis. The 2022 meeting was held in Rwanda, whereas this year, Samoa will host the event, which will run from October 21-26.

Last month, PM Shehbaz received a phone call from King Charles III of Great Britain, inviting him to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa this October.

The premier accepted the invitation, highlighting the significance of the summit as it will be the first one chaired by King Charles since he assumed leadership of the Commonwealth in September 2022.

The statement also noted that PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth and the values outlined in the Commonwealth Charter.

Noting the King’s longstanding interest in environmental issues and various initiatives for climate sustainability, PM Shehbaz said he particularly looked forward to engaging with Commonwealth leaders on climate change, especially since Pakistan is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In 2022, Pakistan faced the worst floods in its history, triggered by climate change. The devastating floods claimed 1,700 lives, washed away swathes of agricultural land, affected 33 million people, and incurred losses worth $30 billion, according to government estimates.