ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to set up a committee to devise a strategy to ensure sustainable growth and development of its member states.

The OIC is the second-largest intergovernmental organization in the world with 57 states spread across four continents. It is considered the collective voice of the Muslim world and was established in 1969 to protect and safeguard the Muslim world's interests. 

At the 49th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers chaired by FM Bhutto-Zardari, the Pakistani minister spoke of the need for the OIC to enhance its capacity in the digital global economy. 

"I propose that the OIC create a committee for the future," Bhutto-Zardari said. "Which can chart a clear and long-term strategy for sustainable growth and development of OIC member states."

He said the Islamic world must achieve "genuine economic independence and sovereignty", adding that the economies of most members of the OIC had been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, global conflicts and worldwide inflation. 

"Pakistan has been hit by a perfect storm, after the impact of COVID, inflation and the economic collapse in Afghanistan and the consequences of the Ukraine war, my country has been devastated by biblical floods last summer," he said.

Bhutto-Zardari said Pakistan's economic recovery has been eroded due to the difficult negotiations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He called on the OIC to collectively demand a "speedy debt restructuring" of 60 financially distressed countries and the promised climate finance of $100 billion annually. 

On Islamophobia, Bhutto-Zardari said the UN secretary-general must formulate an action plan to defeat it. He said the UN must appoint a special envoy to ensure protection of Islamic holy sites and outlaw hate speech and violence against Muslims. 

"Islamophobia has now become endemic in several countries and societies," he said.