ISLAMABAD: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha will be visiting Pakistan on December 10-12 on the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Pakistani foreign office said on Thursday, which will mark his first-ever visit to the South Asian country since assuming office in November last year.

Headquartered in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the OIC is the second-largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, with a membership of 57 states across four continents. It serves as a collective voice of the Muslim world to ensure and safeguard their interests in economic, social, and political spheres.

During his visit, the OIC secretary-general will call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, hold a delegation-level meeting with Bhutto-Zardari and visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“Issues on the agenda of OIC, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Islamophobia, and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, will be discussed,” the foreign office said in a statement.

“It will also be an opportunity to exchange views on economic, social, and technological cooperation among OIC member countries.”

Pakistan is a founding member of the OIC and has vowed to continue making efforts to promote Islamic solidarity, unity, and dialogue in the organization.

The secretary-general’s visit will enable an exchange of views on how the OIC can galvanize itself further to deliver on the aspirations of the 1.9 billion Muslims that it represents, according to the foreign office.

Separately, Pakistan and Indonesia are set to hold talks on matters relating to the OIC.

The decision was made at a meeting between Bhutto-Zardari, who is currently on a three-day visit to Indonesia and Singapore, and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on the sidelines of the 15th Bali Democracy Forum.

“As the two largest Islamic countries, Pakistan and Indonesia will maintain dialogue on matters relating to the OIC and global and regional issues of mutual interest,” the statement read.

Bhutto-Zardari and Marsudi reviewed the state of bilateral relations and signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a joint ministerial commission (JMC) at the foreign minister level.

“[The] JMC will oversee mutually beneficial cooperation and promote regular bilateral engagement,” the statement added.