ISLAMABAD: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday said the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organization of Islamic Cooperation in its meeting would discuss the challenges being face by the Muslim Ummah including the issues of Palestine and Kashmir.
He was speaking during a visit to Parliament House here to see the arrangements for the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Special Foreign Secretary Raza Bashir Tarar, Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asim Iftikhar and senior officers of the ministry were present on the occasion.
The officials gave a detailed briefing to the minister about the arrangements for the conference. The minister visited the central conference hall, counters for the delegations, medical center, media center and different meeting rooms.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said it was a great honour for Pakistan to host the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers conference after holding the extraordinary session of the OIC ministers last time.
He said he met with the visiting Egyptian foreign minister and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. As a founding member of OIC, Pakistan wanted a strengthened platform of OIC, he remarked.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan effectively raised the issue of Islamophobia and a resolution was adopted in the United Nations and from now onwards March 15 will be observed as an international day against Islamophobia.
He said on the special instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan all arrangements had been made to host the OIC delegates led by foreign ministers.
Official anthem of 48th OIC-CFM launched
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi launched the official anthem of the 48th Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM), which would be held in the federal capital on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The authorities had made special arrangements at the airport in Islamabad for the foreign delegates coming to attend the OIC-CFM. The airport had been decorated with the flags of the OIC member countries, while special counters for the immigration of visiting delegations were being set up.
‘Hum Mustafavi Hain’ would be the official anthem of the 48th OIC-CFM,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qreshi said, launching the anthem. It was the anthem of the third OIC summit meeting held in Lahore in the mid-70s, written by Jamiluddin Aali. Qureshi thanked the Information Ministry for refreshing the old memories.
“It is a matter of great honour for Pakistan that in a matter of few months, it is hosting the OIC meeting for the second time this year,” Qureshi said, referring to a special session of the OIC-CFM to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
He said several foreign ministers from the OIC countries would attend the meeting next week. “This session is also special because it is coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the creation of Pakistan. The OIC foreign ministers will also attend Pakistan Day parade on March 23.”
