ISLAMABAD: On behalf of more than 50 countries from across the world, Pakistan on Tuesday delivered a joint statement to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) to bring attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Indian-administered Kashmir, the Foreign Office said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“The worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir, especially following decisions taken on August 5, 2019, requires urgent attention by the Human Rights Council and human rights mechanisms,” excerpts from the joint statement said.
The Foreign Office said that Pakistan shared the concerns of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet “regarding the impact of recent actions on the human rights of Kashmiris” and appreciated the joint call for the removal of restrictions and the protection of the Kashmiri people.
It also pushed for actions based on the findings of the UN’s Kashmir reports, and for the peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute by implementating the UN Security Council’s recommendations.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi demanded that the UN launch an international investigation into the situation in Kashmir. “I shudder to mention the word genocide here, but I must,” he said in his address to the UNHCR in Geneva.
The issue follows an announcement on August 5 by the Indian government to revoke Kashmir’s special status, following which the entire valley has been under a state of curfew.
The disputed Himalayan region has also seen thousands of additional troops being deployed in the area which experts say is India’s attempt to silence the Kashmiris’ right to protest.
The issue has become a flashpoint for the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors with Pakistan appealing to the UN to interject and resolve the matter.
Pakistan says joint statement to UN on Kashmir backed by over 50 nations
Pakistan says joint statement to UN on Kashmir backed by over 50 nations
- Situation in Kashmir warrants urgent attention from Human Rights Council, Foreign Office says
- Foreign Minister Qureshi urges the UN to launch an international probe into the matter
Pakistan steps up skills training push for overseas workers during minister’s Dubai visit
- UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities around the world
- Overseas Pakistanis ministry facilitating establishment of reputable training institutions in high employability sectors, says minister
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain this week stressed the importance of pre-departure training and soft skills for citizens seeking jobs in foreign countries during his visit to the Pakistani consulate in Dubai, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
The UAE is also home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the world, who contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances. The Gulf state is the second-largest source of remittances for Pakistan after Saudi Arabia, making it a crucial source of foreign exchange for the national economy.
Hussain met officers of the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai on Monday during which he discussed with them issues concerning the welfare and facilitation of Pakistani nationals in the UAE.
“He particularly emphasized the importance of pre-departure training and the imparting of soft skills to better prepare Pakistani workers for overseas job markets,” the PID said on Monday.
“He noted that the ministry is facilitating the establishment of credible and reputable training institutions to provide skills training in sectors with high employability.”
During the visit, Hussain also toured various sections of the Pakistani consulate and reviewed the delivery of services such as passport issuance, national identity cards, community welfare and other public facilitation services, the PID said.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic relations, with Abu Dhabi playing a pivotal role in supporting Islamabad during periods of financial stress through deposits, oil facilities and investment commitments over the years.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and a key destination for Pakistani exports, particularly food, textiles and construction services.
