Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday underlined the need for sustained reforms and development to deal with challenges facing the Ummah and renewed call for the international community to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism to curb the twin menaces.
"Today the Muslim Ummah represents one-fifth of humanity. Yet we must acknowledge that we face challenges," he said while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Secretariat of Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Co-operation (ICYF-DC).
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erodgan here on Sunday and the two leaders discussed bilateral issues. Both the leaders also discussed latest situation of Lebanon, Palestine and other international issues. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Turkish counterpart agreed to enhance co-operation to project the real image of Islam in the world.
The trestle ties and economic relations between the two countries also came under discussion in the meeting and both countries agreed to further enhance these relations.
The Turkish Prime Minister while talking to reporters after the meeting said Pakistan and Turkey have very strong relations. Later, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz held meetings with Secretary General Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Speaker Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc.
At the opening ceremony of the (ICYF-DC) Prime Minister Aziz stressed on the need for improving the level of socio-economic development within the Ummah to effectively deal with the challenges it faced. Besides, he said there were long festering disputes that have yet to be settled.
In this context, Shaukat referred to the most recent blatant acts of Israeli aggression in Lebanon, which resulted in the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians, including children, and which have further aggravated the situation.
He said, extremism and terrorism, which have maligned the noble faith of Islam, must be curbed through resolving their root causes.
"These challenges faced by the Ummah can only be addressed through sustained reform and development," he added. "Socioeconomic progress, human development and promotion of true Islamic values of peace and tolerance, will free our societies, particularly the youth, from indoctrination by radical elements," the Prime Minister said. But at the same time, Prime Minister Aziz stressed on the international community, especially the major powers, to help redress those issues that breed anger and frustration among Muslims.
He said that President Musharraf's strategy of Enlightened Moderation, aimed at ensuring reform of Muslim societies and resolution of issues that are at the root cause of terrorism, provides a way forward.
"We are also convinced that the OIC Ten-Year Programme of action, adopted at the third extraordinary session of the Islamic Summit Conference at Makkah, contains practical steps to achieve unity within our ranks, and project the true and noble values of Islam," he added.
The programme also calls upon all member states to support and promote youth programmes and youth forums to facilitate understanding and co-operation among Muslim youth as well as contribute to their empowerment in society. Therefore, he said, the establishment of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum is timely and appropriate.
Describing the opening of the Secretariat of the OIC Youth Forum for Dialogue and Co-operation as an event of far-reaching significance, the Prime Minister commended the government of Turkey for hosting this Secretariat, which demonstrates its deep commitment to the future of the Ummah.
Shaukat also shared with the audience the effort of the Pakistan government to invest in the future of the youth of Pakistan. In this respect, he said the government was developing a comprehensive youth political and leadership training programme to promote responsibility and awareness including reduction in the voting age from 21 to 18 years.
The government is also improving the creative, functional and productive capabilities of youth for economic development by launching Youth Exchange Programmes, Youth Internship Programmes, Youth Awareness Programmes and Youth Investment Promotion Society.The Prime Minister also pledged to help promote institutional linkages between the Youth Forum and the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Co-operation (COMSTECH) Secretariat in Islamabad.
Earlier, Shaukat, highlighting the importance of youth of the Muslim countries, said it has the potential and talent to play an important role in the world to promote the real image of Islam. Talking to newsmen soon after his arrival here from London, the Prime Minister said the youth need to be given proper education so that they could play their due role in the society.
He said the headquarters is established with the co-operation of Organisation of Islamic Conference and with personal efforts of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"The youth of the Muslim Ummah is the real future of the Islamic world and it is the real asset, therefore, they should be given proper facilities to groom their talent," the Prime Minister said. The ICYF-DC will be an international institution affiliated with the OIC, situated at the World Trade Centre here in Istanbul.
The main purpose of the forum is to promote the initiative of the United Nations "alliance of civilisations" which was proposed by Prime Minister of Turkey and Spain The forum aims at co-ordinating youth activities in the OIC countries and promoting dialogue and understanding between youth of the OIC countries and their counterparts world-wide.
It pursues its activities in five major fields, including advocacy of youth interests, supporting sustainable development, promoting formal and non-formal education, strengthening moral values of the young and engaging in dialogue among cultures and civilisations. The forum consists of 35 leading national and six international youth organisations.
Memorandum of Understanding of Co-operation between the ICYF-DC and Council of Europe as well as the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also signed to define concrete spheres of co-operation among these organisations in the areas of development of youth in the OIC countries and establishment of sustained dialogue with the European youth.
Earlier, talking to a delegation of Muslim leaders, who called on him at the Pakistan High Commission in London, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has stressed the need for the resolution of simmering conflicts to eliminate the root causes of terrorism.
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