ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has some of the highest numbers of women blue helmets in the world, EU envoy to Pakistan said on Twitter on Sunday, a day after the ‘International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.’
Pakistan’s contributions to UN peacekeeping span over six decades.
“Did you know that Pakistan has one of the highest percentage of women Peacekeepers in the world ?” Androulla Kaminara, ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan said on Sunday.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement:
“As one of the top troop contributing countries, Pakistan deeply values the vital role played by ‘blue helmets’ in maintaining security and stability in many conflict-ridden areas around the world.”
It also said Pakistan had led the way in deputing female peacekeepers in “record time.”
“A team of our officers is presently serving as the first all-female group from Pakistan in a UN peacekeeping mission, deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the FO said.
These officers provide a range of resources to the region including through work as psychologists, stress counsellors, vocational training officers, gender advisers, doctors, nurses, operations officers, information officers and logistics officers.
“Since 1960, over 200,000 of our servicemen have served with honor and valour in 46 UN missions in 26 countries in almost all continents of the world,” the statement read.
Pakistan brings a “unique perspective to peacekeeping,” the FO said, not only as a leading troop contributing country, but also as host to one of the oldest peacekeeping missions in the world.
According to foreign ministry data, 157 of Pakistan’s peacekeepers have been martyred in the line of duty for the cause of international peace and security.
Pakistanis among world’s highest percentage of women UN peacekeepers — EU envoy
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Pakistanis among world’s highest percentage of women UN peacekeepers — EU envoy
- A team is serving in Congo as Pakistan’s first all-female group in a UN peacekeeping mission
- Since 1960, over 200,000 Pakistani servicemen have served in 46 UN missions in 26 countries
Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies
- Delegation will take part in the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from Jan. 13-15
- Petroleum minister will lead Pakistan, participate in a 90-minute country session
ISLAMABAD: Around 13 Pakistani state-owned and private companies will attend the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 13 to 15, an official statement said on Friday, as the country seeks to ramp up global engagement to develop its mineral resources.
The FMF is an international conference and investment platform for the mining sector, hosted by mineral-rich countries to attract global investors, companies and governments.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed Pakistan’s participation in a meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest copper-gold zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan, with an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore, is partly owned by Barrick Gold, which calls it one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold deposits. Its development is expected to boost Pakistan’s struggling economy.
“Upon an invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Minister informed the Ambassador that Pakistan will fully participate in the upcoming Future Minerals Forum (FMF), scheduled to be held in Riyadh later this month,” Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said in an official statement.
The Pakistani minister will lead his country’s delegation at the FMF and take part in a 90-minute country showcase session titled “Unleashing Potential: Accelerating Pakistan’s Mineral Revolution” along with local and foreign investors.
Pakistan will also establish a dedicated pavilion to highlight the vast potential of its rich geological landscape to the global mineral community.
The Saudi envoy welcomed Pakistan’s decision to participate in the forum and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the minerals and energy sectors during the meeting.
According to the statement, he highlighted the potential for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the minerals and energy sectors, expressing confidence that the FMF would provide a platform to expand collaboration.
Pakistan’s mineral sector, despite its rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, contributes only 3.2 percent to the country’s GDP and just 0.1 percent to global mineral exports.
However, many countries, including the United States, have shown interest in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral sector, particularly in copper, gold and other critical resources.
In October, Pakistan dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, according to a Chicago-based US public relations firm’s report.
