Urges world to take steps for combating Islamophobia
ISLAMABAD
President Dr Arif Alvi has underscored the need for further strengthening bilateral economic and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The president expressed these views while talking to Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Maliky, who called on him on Friday.
The president said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong fraternal ties, based on shared faith, culture, tradition and mutual goodwill that need to be further expanded for the mutual benefit of the two countries. He remarked that Pakistan wants to broaden bilateral relationships in the field of media and culture by building institutional linkages.
The President said Pakistani diaspora is contributing to the kingdom’s socio-economic development. He expressed the hope that the saudi government would ease travel restrictions on Pakistani nationals as the situation of Covid-19 has improved considerably in the kingdom.
The ambassador underlined the need for further broadening bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and culture for the mutual advantages of the two brotherly countries.
Separately, talking to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Munir Akram, President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the international community to take serious steps for combating Islamophobia and discouraging hate speech to prevent intolerance and hatred in societies.
He said that Pakistan’s contribution in the war on terror must be highlighted effectively at international fora. He said that Pakistan has suffered a lot at the hands of terrorists as it lost over 70,000 people and its economy suffered huge losses to the tune of 150 billion dollars.
Dr Alvi said that the world must acknowledge Pakistan’s contribution against the war on terror as it successfully defeated terrorism by offering enormous sacrifices and this success story of the country should be properly projected.
The president asked the ambassador to highlight the disturbing developments in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He also regretted that the world chose to remain silent about the illegal uranium trade in India.
The president appreciated the role of Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nation in highlighting the Kashmir issue and Indian brutalities against the Muslims of IIOJK.
