Jalil Abbas Jilani expresses Pakistan’s readiness to airlift injured Palestinians for their treatment in the country  

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (SABAH): Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has expressed Pakistan’s readiness to airlift injured Palestinians for their treatment in the country.  

Responding to a calling attention notice in the Senate of Pakistan on Friday, Jalil Abbas Jilani said we are also in contact with Jordan and Egypt on this matter.

Expressing grave concerns over dire situation in Gaza, Foreign Minister said Israel is committing war crimes and genocide there. He demanded that Israel should be held accountable for its actions.

Foreign Minister said Pakistan has played a pro-active diplomatic role at different forums including the United Nations and the OIC to highlight the plight of Palestinians.

“We are already in contact with Jordan and Egypt. We have offered them that Pakistan will be happy to treat these injured Palestinians in Pakistan,” Foreign Minister Jilani said. However, he pointed out that they were encountering some problems and working to resolve them as soon as possible.

“We are also in contact with countries that are in touch with Israel because Israel’s permission is also needed,” said FM Jilani. He added that the Egyptians had communicated to Islamabad that Israel also scrutinises the injured to make sure that a Hamas member is not being taken away.

“We have also offered that Pakistan [wishes to] establish a hospital there,” said Jilani. But he again explained that the situation in Gaza was such that there was no possibility for any country to establish a health facility in the besieged strip.

“Indonesia had also established a hospital that has now been destroyed. This is the situation but we will keep on working,” the minister told the senate.

On the diplomatic efforts of Islamabad, Foreign Minister Jilani said that Pakistan was among a few countries that have played an active role in putting pressure on Israel. He shared that the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) recent moot in Jeddah was one such example and Pakistan was among eight countries that helped produce the consensus document.

The other diplomatic effort that the top diplomat highlighted was the passage of the United Nations resolution floated by Jordan.

“I got calls from 10-15 foreign ministers who appreciated Pakistan for the role it played in developing consensus,” said Jilani.

The minister was also of the view that the support which Palestinians got in Europe and the US showed that Israel and Western countries’ narrative had failed.

“I believe the Palestine issue has come on the centre stage because of what happened in the last month,” said the minister.

Earlier, the Senate was informed that prices of essential commodities will now gradually come down as a result of the government effective policies.   

Caretaker Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr. Shamshad Akhtar told the House during Question Hour, that we have met the target of primary deficit in line with the stand by arrangement reached with the IMF. She said we have also managed to reduce expenditures.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi said action has been taking against those involved in selling substandard items including water to the people. The House has now been adjourned to meet again on Monday at 3:00 PM.