Govt focusing on geo-economics for economic stability of the country: Qureshi
ISLAMABAD, Feb 09 (SABAH): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan desires to have broad-based and multidimensional relationship with the United States.
He was talking to Pakistan’s Ambassador designate to the US Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The Foreign Minister said the government is focusing on geo-economics for economic stability of the country.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed that the world attention should be drawn towards the investment opportunities available in Pakistan through economic diplomacy.
Meanwhile Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the Indian Muslims to stand up for the protection of their fundamental rights. In a statement on Wednesday, he said the persecution campaign will not stop if the Muslims remained silent.
The Foreign Minister strongly condemned the banning of Hijab at educational institutions in Karnataka state. He said the flag bearers of human rights should take notice of it and speak for the rights of Muslim girl students who are being deprived of their fundamental right of education.
Voicing concerns over the maltreatment of minorities in India, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan is hosting 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and it will discuss the issues faced by the Muslim Ummah including Palestine and Kashmir disputes as well as Islamophobia.
Qureshi underscores importance accorded to fraternal relations with Chad
Meanwhile Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke with his counterpart from Chad, Cherif Mahamat Zene on Wednesday. The conversation focused on deepening historic ties between the two countries and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The Foreign Minister underscored the importance accorded to fraternal relations with Chad and lauded Chad’s substantive contributions to regional and international organisations including the UN, AU and OIC.
The two Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction over existing levels of mutual cooperation and identified new vistas for political, diplomatic, trade and defence collaboration.
Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy and apprised of the steps taken to reinforce Pakistan-Africa relations. In this regard, he highlighted expansion of Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint in the Continent and steps for closer trade and investment collaboration.
The two Foreign Ministers concurred in establishing bilateral mechanisms for regular exchanges between their respective Foreign Ministries and continued opportunities for young diplomats from Chad to train at Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad.