ISLAMABAD
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has said that Pakistan remains committed to two-state solution of the Palestinian conflict based on 1967 borders. Responding to the points of Mian Raza Rabbani in the Senate on Tuesday, the Foreign Minister said that Pakistan’s position is in line with the United Nations and OIC resolutions.
The minister clarified that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no input in the initial statement issued by the President Secretariat. He acknowledged being unaware of the context in which the statement was made but reiterated Pakistan’s stance in favor of a two-state resolution for the Palestinian issue.
He emphasized the need for Israel’s withdrawal to its pre-1967 borders and the resolution of the matter in accordance with UN Resolution 242 and OIC resolutions. Highlighting that a clarification was issued after this statement, the minister mentioned that it was sent to the OIC Secretariat and UN institutions.
He further noted that the clarification was also disseminated through both domestic and international media. Meanwhile, replying to a question during the Question Hour, the Foreign Minister told the House that about 2.5 million Pakistanis are working in Saudi Arabia.
He said round the clock helpline has been established in the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah to address their complaints. The Foreign Minister pointed out that about five hundred thousand Pakistani went to Saudi Arabia last year for employment.
He said the Saudi authorities have given the assurances to provide jobs to those facing employment related problems at alternative companies. Jalil Abbas Jilani said the Federal Investigation Agency has busted two to three gangs of beggars, who were trying to travel to Saudi Arabia under the garb of Umrah.
The Senate was informed today that caretaker government is making all-out efforts to address the problems in the education sector. During Question Hour, Caretaker Minister for Education Madad Ali Sindhi regretted that education sector was neglected by successive governments.
He pointed out that our twenty million children are out of schools. He said it is our effort to improve the quality of education at public sector schools to improve enrollment there. The Minister said Higher Education Commission has also been instructed to keep an eye on quality of education in universities.
Answering another question, Caretaker Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi told the House that a committee has been constituted to elect a new President of Pakistan Hockey Federation.
He also laid before the House the Report on 1st Biannual Monitoring on the Implementation of 7th NFC Award. Later, the House was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10:30 in the morning.
