F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday said that Pakistan would always champion the Jammu and Kashmir cause and its resolution as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
He was speaking at the ongoing Envoys’ Conference being held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from January 4-6, 2024. Pakistan’s envoys from important capitals are participating in the conference and are deliberating on various facets of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Welcoming the prime minister, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani outlined the framework of discussions at the Envoys’ Conference and its importance as a deliberative forum on diplomatic challenges and opportunities for Pakistan in view of the global and regional developments. He underscored the need for strengthening the anchoring role of the Foreign Office in foreign policy formulation and implementation.
The prime minister, in his key-note address, shared his perspective about the pressing demands on the conduct of Pakistan’s foreign policy to align it with present-day imperatives. He said that the foreign policy should be guided by a vision of Pakistan as a progressive, economically ascendant state that prioritizes the socio-economic well-being of its people. It should also continue to aim for peace and mutually beneficial relations across the globe, he added. Pakistan would continue to stand for international law and purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, mainstreaming economic diplomacy and support the Palestinian cause, the prime minister said.
He termed the conference timely and relevant against the backdrop of profound transformations taking place in the region and around the globe. He reaffirmed his trust in Pakistan’s diplomacy and diplomats in their capability to fully deliver despite pressing odds, and expressed the hope that the deliberations of the conference would lead to practical suggestions to navigate Pakistan’s foreign policy through present day challenges.
PM Kakar extended his best wishes to the Foreign Office and Pakistani diplomats in safeguarding the country’s interests and advancing its global stature. SIFC playing active role to attract investment from Gulf countries: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was playing an active role in attracting investors from Gulf countries, including Qatar, to benefit from opportunities in key sectors of the economy.
The prime minister, in a meeting with Ambassador of Qatar in Islamabad Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater, said that Pakistan and Qatar enjoyed strong, fraternal ties. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to expand bilateral cooperation across all spheres, particularly trade and investment. He also conveyed warm regards to the Amir of Qatar. The prime minister encouraged the Qatari ambassador to explore the potential for cooperation in tourism and media sectors.
He said that Pakistan appreciated the role played by Qatar in diplomatic efforts that led to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. He stressed the need for concerted efforts by the international community, particularly Muslim Ummah, to bring peace in Palestine. As this was Ambassador Al-Khater’s first call on the prime minister since presenting his credentials in November, he congratulated the envoy on assuming ambassadorial responsibilities in Pakistan and hoped that the bonds of friendship between the two countries would further strengthen during his tenure.
