ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Foreign Affairs on Thursday called for enhancing trade relations and people-to-people contact in the region and beyond with emphasis on Pakistan’s strategic and economic interests in the Middle East, particularly, with the Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The meeting chaired by Hina Rabbani Khar engaged in a comprehensive session to discuss and strategise Pakistan’s foreign relations.
Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi and other senior official of the Foreign Office gave a detailed and comprehensive overview on Pakistan’s current diplomatic standing and future outlook with several key regions, including Russia and Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and the Central Asian countries.
The committee delved into the evolving geopolitical landscape with emphasis on enhancing trade relations and people-to-people contact in the said regions. Discussions highlighted Pakistan’s strategic and economic interests in the Middle East, particularly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries.
The committer also emphasised exploring the potential for enhancing trade cooperation with Turkey and the Central Asian Republics.
While the briefing on Africa and South America was deferred, the committee acknowledged the need for a focused diplomatic strategy for these growing regions.
Key recommendations from the committee included increasing Pakistani scholarships in European countries, addressing internal processes to curb illegal emigration, and ensuring balanced diplomatic engagements with major powers. The necessity of streamlining economic diplomacy alongside political diplomacy was underscored, with a call for a coherent approach involving various ministries and agencies.
The committee also expressed its commitment to advance Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives, ensuring alignment with the nation’s strategic interests and global aspirations.
The meeting was attended by chairperson Hina Rabbani Khar and members including Shandana Gulzar Khan, Danyal Chaudhary, Khurram Munawar Manj, Muhammad Khan Daha, Zain Hussain Qureshi, Ayesha Nazir, Ijazul Haq, Syed Mustafa Mehmood, Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi, Shaista Pervaiz, Nuzhat Sadiq, and Farah Naz Akbar.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Comments
Comments are closed.