ISLAMABAD: Following Pakistan’s exclusion from a virtual summit hosted by the US on climate change slated to take place next month, the country’s civil society activists, working in the field of environmental protection, have expressed their concerns over the decision.

The virtual summit on climate change, to be held on April 22 and 23 called by US President Joe Biden, will see the participation of at least 40 heads of state and governments, including India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

As per details from the White House, "the virtual summit would be addressed by leaders of Russia, China, Argentina, Australia, France, Indonesia, Germany, Israel, Canada, Japan, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Denmark, Colombia, Congo, Chile, Jamaica and other countries".

The exclusion of Pakistan has prompted response from many, who took to social media to express their surprise. Pakistan is the fifth-most vulnerable country and is among the nations badly affected by climate change.

Senior journalist Kamran Yousaf maintained that Pakistan's expulsion from the summit can be related to the recent statement of the former US envoy, who stated that the country lost a great deal of importance in the minds of the American leadership.

"What the current US leadership think about Pakistan, an eye-opener statement by former US Ambassador to Islamabad and must serve as a wakeup call," he said.

Another senior journalist and South Asian affairs expert Michael Kugelman said that Pakistan's expulsion from the summit came at a time especially when the prime agenda of the current leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, is to take actions to mitigate the affects of climate change.

Back to work: France reopens Libyan Embassy after seven years closure

Miscreants set fire to 400-year-old crematorium and Radha Govind Ashram in Bangladesh

No corona in Nepal but school-college are closed, this is the reason