New chief lauds Pak interest in OIC 'diverse initiatives'

JEDDAH:

Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ambassador Syed Mohammad Fawad Sher, called on the newly elected Secretary General of the OIC, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, at the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah.

According to a statement, the ambassador handed over a letter of felicitations addressed to the secretary general of the OIC from Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Conveying best wishes to the secretary general on behalf of the Pakistani leadership, the ambassador said that the secretary general's election by consensus was a testament to his credentials as a statesman and a diplomat and underscored the trust reposed in him by all OIC Member States.

The ambassador underlined that, being a founding member, Pakistan accorded high primacy to its engagement with the OIC. He particularly highlighted the DPM/FM keen interest in the OIC's diverse initiatives, as reflected in his regular participation in and patronage of its various events.

He apprised the secretary general about Pakistan's multidimensional high-level engagements with the OIC during the current year, including the hosting of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in July this year and the forthcoming 18th OIC Trade Fair in November.

Referring to the complex political, security, and socio-economic challenges facing the Islamic Ummah, the ambassador expressed confidence that, under the new secretary general's dynamic leadership, the OIC will realize its true potential in addressing these obstacles.

He said that Pakistan highly valued the OIC's unwavering and principled support for the Kashmiris right to self-determination, and hoped that the OIC will endeavor with even more vigour for a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute during the secretary general's tenure.

He added that Pakistan pinned high hopes on the incoming secretary general's sagacity and foresight in tackling the scourge of Islamophobia that has unfortunately assumed an alarming magnitude worldwide.