ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Palestinian and Iraqi counterparts on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on Thursday, the Pakistani foreign office said on Friday.
The Forum, attended by top political leaders, diplomats, opinion makers and academics, is being held from June 18-20 in an Antalya resort on the coast of the Mediterranean.
During the meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr. Riyad Al-Maliki, “Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and underscored the importance of two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders under the relevant UNSC [United Nations Security Counsil] resolutions for sustainable peace in the region.”
The Israeli military said this week it had launched aircraft attacks in the Gaza Strip - the first since an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire ended 11 days of cross-border fighting last month.
In his meeting with the Palestinian leader, Qureshi also expressed strong concerns on the recent Israeli strikes against Gaza.
Maliki briefed Foreign Minister Qureshi on the latest situation in Palestine, conveying “deep appreciation on behalf of the Palestinian President and people of Palestine to the Foreign Minister for proactively taking up the case of Palestine at the UN General Assembly during the recent Israeli aggression against Gaza.”
Both foreign ministers discussed rising Islamophobia and agreed on the need to evolve a joint strategy to counter discrimination against all religious faiths.
Qureshi also extended an invitation to Maliki to visit Pakistan.
“Foreign Minister Maliki accepted the invitation and responded that he looked forward to visiting Pakistan in the near future,” the foreign office said.
Qureshi also met Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr. Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of the Forum on June 17.
“Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the importance of liberalizing the visa regime for facilitating Pakistani Zaireen [pilgrims] visiting the religious sites in Iraq,” the foreign office said. “Both Foreign Ministers also exchanged best practices in promoting religious tourism.”
Pakistani foreign minister meets Palestinian, Iraqi counterparts at Antalya Diplomacy Forum
https://arab.news/w7pbj
Pakistani foreign minister meets Palestinian, Iraqi counterparts at Antalya Diplomacy Forum
- The Forum, attended by top political leaders, diplomats, opinion makers and academics, is being held from June 18-20
- Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestinian cause, underscored importance of two-state solution
Pakistan urges developed nations, global institutions to expand role in climate financing
- Pakistan is recognized among countries worldwide most affected by climate-induced disasters
- Planning minister stresses redesigning global financial system on principles of responsibility, equity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal this week called on developed nations and international financial institutions to play a greater role in helping developing countries adopt green technologies at lower costs, state-run media reported.
Pakistan has suffered frequent climate change-induced disasters over the past couple of years, ranging from floods, droughts, heatwaves, cyclones and other irregular weather patterns.
This year the South Asian country reported over 1,000 deaths from floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains and the melting of glaciers.
“He [Iqbal] said Pakistan has urged developed countries and international financial institutions to expand their role in climate financing to enable developing nations to adopt green technologies at lower costs,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday.
The minister was speaking at the Second Asia Energy Transition Summit held at Pakistani university LUMS on Saturday.
Iqbal warned that climate change is intensifying emergencies and increasing economic burdens on vulnerable countries, adding that financial incentives and concessional financing have become indispensable for sustainable climate action.
“He further emphasized the need to redesign the global financial system based on the principles of collective responsibility and equity,” APP said.
The minister noted that Pakistan has been introducing comprehensive reforms in its development agenda to promote renewable energy, solar power and green technological solutions.
The country, he said, possesses “strong solar potential,” a robust renewable energy market, a wide talent pool in engineering and science and an enabling environment for green innovation.
Pakistan has regularly urged developed countries to fulfill past pledges and provide easy access to climate funding without attaching conditions, especially at Conference of Parties (COP30) climate summits.
Islamabad was instrumental in getting the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) established at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022. The Loss and Damage Fund aims to help developing and least developed countries cope with both economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and slow-onset crises like sea-level rise and droughts.
