The President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said that a peaceful Afghanistan would not only help bring economic prosperity to Afghanistan but also to its neighbouring countries.
Talking to a delegation of Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), led by KCCI President Syed Hassan Ali Shah, which called on him at the Presidency, Alvi said that the border districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the Khyber district, could benefit enormously from trade and commercial opportunities in Afghanistan.
Lauding the government’s effort for hosting the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, he said that it would help gather international support for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.
The president said serious efforts were being made to facilitate and support the business community, which was playing a great role in socio-economic development of the country.
He stated that the government had initiated a number of development projects in different sectors in the newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the people of area would benefit from these projects.
The delegation apprised the president of their problems, especially about trade with Afghanistan. The delegation also applauded steps taken by the government for providing relief to the business community during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, President Alvi felicitated the Christian community across the world on the celebrations of Christmas and said the world needed to spread the message of peace, as done by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Jesus Christ (PBUH)
Speaking at an event to celebrate Christmas, he said Christmas was a day of celebrations and a day to remember that Jesus Christ (PBUH) was a great messenger of peace. The president urged the world to avoid oppression, conflict and violence, and instead promote tolerance.
He said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that those who forgive would have the highest rank in paradise. Now, the world needs most to learn from the Jesus Christ’s (PBUH) message and show mercy and forgive others, he added.
Both Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Jesus Christ (PBUH) urged their followers to practice tolerance and live peacefully, he stressed. He said the world was witnessing oppression and suffering from wars and massacre, adding that women and children were suffering from oppression and cruelty. He said he was happy that the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches had tried to stop oppression and wars in the world.
The Pope recently said that the Mediterranean Sea had become a graveyard of migrants and he was continuously saying that the people who were leaving their countries due to cruelty and atrocities should be given refuge and same was the message of the Jesus Christ (PBUH), he noted.
He said message of the Jesus Christ (PBUH) was that if you will set a goal you will achieve it and if you will come into contact with God you will get His blessings. “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you,” he quoted Jesus (PBUH) as saying.
He said the incident of Sialkot was a matter of shame for the nation. He said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also stressed on tolerance and kindness. He said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Jesus (PBUH) asked people to avoid arrogance as Allah loved humbleness.
