Pakistan is hosting the 48th session of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on March 22-23, the embassy announced in a statement in Doha Tuesday. The conference, which will be attended by foreign ministers from across the Muslim world, coincides with celebrations marking the 75th year of Pakistan's independence, it was explained.
"Pakistan and Qatar remain deeply committed to the eternal Islamic values of brotherhood and humanity. Promoting solidarity and co-operation within the Ummah is not only a key pillar of the respective foreign policies of the two brotherly countries but also an element of faith for their peoples. It is these shared values that bind the two nations in an unbreakable bond.
"Pakistan Qatar relationship is attributed great importance by both the people and leadership of the two countries. The people of Pakistan proudly welcomed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Pakistan in June 2019. The landmark visit was marked by exceptional warmth and cordiality and was a reaffirmation of the close bonds of brotherhood between Qatar and Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s three visits to Doha in as many years, also symbolise the abiding bilateral relationship which is broad based, multifaceted and rooted in common vision of unity, solidarity and development.
"As the two brotherly nations enter the 50th year of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, the Government and the people of Pakistan now avidly look forward to receive HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar to participate in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers session; and attend as a guest of honour at the Pakistan Day Parade in Islamabad on 23rd March.
"As a founding member of the OIC, Pakistan believes that the best expression of solidifying Islamic solidarity is by further strengthening the organisation as a representative voice of over 1.5bn Muslims across the world. We are confident that the 48th meeting of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers will be a landmark session in our combined efforts to chart a joint way forward. Pakistan will continue to work with Qatar and all other OIC member states, towards harnessing our collective ambition into concrete action, and to take tangible steps to further strengthen bonds of Islamic solidarity and co-operation.
"The theme the of 48th session of the OIC CFM is ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development’. Its priorities include building partnership and co-operation in the Islamic world and discussions will feature issues related to peace and security, economic development, cultural and scientific co-operation and the role of the OIC and other issues. The foreign ministers would also focus on the various challenges being faced by the Ummah across the world including Islamophobia, struggle against oppression as well as the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where Qatar played a key role in bringing about peace and reconciliation.
"Pakistan will continue to endeavour to promote unity among member states, advance the cause of justice for Islamic peoples, and to achieve the mutually reinforcing goals of prosperity and development for all OIC member states.
"Pakistan has a proud history of hosting OIC Summits and Council of Foreign Ministers meetings. Besides the second OIC Summit in Lahore in 1974 and Extraordinary Summit to mark 50 years of Pakistan’s independence in 1997, Pakistan has hosted four CFMs including the 44th Session in Islamabad in 2007 and two Extraordinary sesisons in January 1980 and December 2021. The people of Pakistan now look forward to hosting Foreign Ministers of OIC member states again on 22nd-23rd March 2022," the statement added.
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