Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said the upcoming two-day 48th meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad had assumed huge significance in the backdrop of varying issues faced by the Muslim world.
The foreign minister was addressing a launching ceremony of the official anthem of 48th meeting of the OIC-CFM. Earlier, he launched the anthem along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain.
The OIC-CFM anthem is jointly released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The anthem was sung and recreated by renowned vocalist Ali Zafar and produced by Tasawarul Karim Baig.
The foreign minister said that it was an honour for Pakistan to host the OIC-CFM meeting on March 22-23, within a period of few months of the successful hosting of an extraordinary meeting of the OIC-CFM last year. “The two-day session is a significant one as it is being held at an important phase when the Ummah is confronted with a host of issues,” he said, citing the Palestine issue and Kashmir issue, the latter had assumed significance after India’s unilateral and illegal steps of Aug 5, 2019.
Referring to the recent UN’s adoption of OIC-backed resolution on Islamophobia, Qureshi said that when the whole Muslim world was united on any issue, the result had always been very fruitful. The whole world agreed to combat this issue and dedicated March 15 as a day to highlight it every year.
The foreign minister further said that foreign ministers from the member states of the OIC would also deliberate on the Afghan issue, as the country was facing serious humanitarian and economic crises. Other global challenges like economic contraction and its fallout, and climate change, etc would also come under consideration, he added.
The foreign minister further said that more than 100 resolutions would be considered during the two-day session. He expressed the confidence that the member states would develop consensus and a comprehensive way forward after their consultation to address all the issues.
Qureshi said during the extraordinary session of OIC-CFM, Pakistan had highlighted the situation in Afghanistan, and in the upcoming meeting, it would highlight the Kashmir issue once again, urging the world that it could no longer neglect the grave situation there.
He said the OIC-CFM would hold deliberations to fully utilise the available resources for the unity, progress and prosperity of the Muslim world. He said the meeting would be a unique occasion for the whole nation, as it would coincide with Pakistan’s Day celebrations.
Qureshi further informed that they had invited the worthy guests to attend Pakistan’s Day parade and witness the professional capability of Pakistan armed forces and the traditional floats of all the provinces, reflecting national unity.
He also expressed gratitude to the information minister and efforts of the ministry and its cooperation.
Separately, Qureshi said the government would face the no-confidence motion in a dignified manner and no member of the National Assembly would be stopped from voting.
In a statement, he said the government would not compel anybody but would remind the members of National Assembly of their mandate, and would face the no-confidence motion in a political, democratic and legal manner.
