Day: March 21, 2022

Secretary General of OIC Hissein Ibrahim Taha says the OIC session will discuss a host of issues including the challenges faced by Muslim Ummah.

He was talking to the state media after arriving in Islamabad on Monday to attend the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

He termed the adoption of resolution by the UN against Islamophobia an important step towards addressing this issue.

President of Islamic Development Bank Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser also arrived in Islamabad to attend the OIC session.

Talking on the occasion, the President of Islamic Development Bank said all possible steps will be taken to provide relief to our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, Tunisia, Bosnia, Somalia, Niger, Gambia and Côte d'Ivoire besides Deputy Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Libya, Malaysia and Mozambique have also arrived in Islamabad to attend the OIC meeting.

Permanent Representative of Maldives to OIC Mohemed Khalil and Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to OIC Mohammad Javed Patwary have also arrived in Islamabad.

All the dignitaries were warmly welcomed by the high officials at the airport.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Islamabad on Monday.

During the meeting, bilateral relations, promotion of bilateral cooperation in various fields of mutual interest, regional and global issues were discussed.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the Tajik Foreign Minister, who is visiting Pakistan to participate the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

He said Tajikistan and Pakistan are two fraternal countries whose relations are linked by common geography, history, culture and common faith.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi also held a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Othman Jerandi in Islamabad on Monday.

They reviewed all aspects of bilateral cooperation and progress on negotiations to advance the Preferential Trade Agreement between the two countries.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed to continue their military, defense and counter-terrorism cooperation and finalize the relevant agreements and strengthen the existing bilateral cooperation.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi appreciated Tunisia's role in promoting regional peace and security and its continued support to the Kashmir issue at the United Nations and the OIC.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is beginning in Islamabad tomorrow [Tuesday].

The thematic focus of the two-day Ministerial Conference is on ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development’.

Foreign Ministers and high-level dignitaries from OIC Member and Observer States, attending the session, will also witness the Pakistan Day Parade on 23 March as Guests of Honour.

China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi will attend as a Special Guest. Senior officials from non-OIC countries, senior representatives from the United Nations, regional and international organizations, including the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council will also participate.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the Inaugural Session [Tuesday].

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will chair the Council of Foreign Ministers.

The OIC Council of Foreign Ministers' conference assumes special significance given the backdrop of opportunities and challenges before the Muslim world in the political, security, social and economic spheres.

Apart from an appraisal of the global and regional landscapes, the conference will inter alia reaffirm the long- standing solidarity and support of its members with the people of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.

It will reiterate its resolve to combat rising Islamophobia, and discuss strategies to counter the effects of climate change, vaccine inequity and erosion in progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Conference will review and assess the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministerial meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir will also take place on the sidelines of the conference.

The Ministerial meeting will take stock of the decisions taken at the Extraordinary Session of the OIC-CFM held in Islamabad in December last year to address the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Hassan Shoukry called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi on Monday.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and cooperation in all fields of defence and security were discussed.

The COAS said that Pakistan and Egypt enjoy truly brotherly relations and emphasized the need for enhancing bilateral cooperation in all spheres.

Referring to OIC's 48th Council of Foreign Ministers session, the COAS termed it a historic development for addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and bringing international community to a shared vision and joint strategy to find solution to emerging challenges in the region vital for peace and stability.

Egyptian Foreign Minister acknowledged Pakistan's contributions towards regional peace and pledged to play his part for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.

He specially appreciated Pakistan's efforts for hosting the OIC's 48th Council of Foreign Ministers.

Source: Radio Pakistan