The first meeting of Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday exchanged views on putting Pakistan's foreign policy in changing regional and global dynamics. According to a Foreign Office statement, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi chaired the first meeting of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Welcoming members of the new Advisory Council, Foreign Minister Qureshi laid out the broad contours of country's foreign policy and key priorities. The foreign minister underlined the important role of civil society, including members of the academia, in working with the state institutions for formulating an inclusive and vibrant policy at pace with changing global trends, it added.
It stated that the member of the Advisory Council appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan's initiative to establish a consultative policy-making process and discussed a broad range of issues related to Pakistan's foreign policy.
Sources said the foreign minister invited input from the council's members on making Pakistan's foreign policy more proactive to respond to regional and global challenges.
Earlier, the Prime Minister had constituted Advisory Council of Foreign Affairs under the chairmanship of the foreign minister. The Advisory Council brings together diverse range of experience, knowledge and talent with the aim to contribute to a reinvigorated foreign policy under the current government.
The Advisory Council includes former diplomats, senior academicians and foreign policy experts.
Foreign Minister Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Omar, Minister for Planning and Development Makhdoom Khosro Bakhtiyar, Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem, Adviser on Commerce, Textile and Industries Abdul Razak Dawood, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, members of the advisory council and senior officials of the ministries concerned attended the meeting.