OIC secretary-general arrives in Pakistan on three-day official visit

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha speaks to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs official in Islamabad, Pakistan on December 10, 2022. (Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
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Updated 10 December 2022
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OIC secretary-general arrives in Pakistan on three-day official visit

  • OIC secretary-general to meet PM Shehbaz Sharif, FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during visit
  • This is Hissein Brahim Taha’s first visit to Pakistan since assuming office in November 2021

ISLAMABAD: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a three-day official visit to the country, his first since assuming office in November last year.

During his visit, Taha is expected to meet the Pakistani leadership to discuss economic, social and technological cooperation among OIC member countries, Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed in a statement.

Headquartered in 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.

Taha was received by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, and Director-General OIC Farrukh Iqbal Khan.

“During his visit, he will be holding a meeting with Prime Minister and hold talks with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” the foreign office said.

The FO added the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Islamophobia, and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan would be discussed during Taha’s visit.

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

Pakistan, one of the founding members of the OIC, has vowed to continue with its efforts to promote Islamic solidarity, unity, and dialogue in the organization.


Pakistan FM discusses regional developments, bilateral cooperation with Saudi, Egyptian counterparts

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Pakistan FM discusses regional developments, bilateral cooperation with Saudi, Egyptian counterparts

  • The development comes a day after PM Sharif received Trump’s invite to join Gaza peace board, amid Iran tensions
  • Pakistani, Saudi and Egyptian FMs stress the importance of dialogue, agree to continue discussions at WEF in Davos

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held separate telephone conversations with his Saudi and Egyptian counterparts to discuss regional developments as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the Pakistani foreign office said.

The statement comes a day after the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join the so-called “Board of Peace” for Gaza.

It followed weeks of tensions over violent protests in Iran, which prompted threats from Washington of military intervention over the killing of more than 4,000 protesters, and developments in Yemen.

“Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and discussed regional developments and avenues for deeper bilateral cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign office said.

“Both leaders looked forward to continuing their discussions on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.”

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains, underpinned by deep religious and cultural ties. Both countries have closely engaged with each other on regional and global developments in recent months.

Separately, Dar spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty and discussed with him the recent regional developments and ongoing bilateral and multilateral issues, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

“Both leaders emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation,” it added.