ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday stressed the need for concerted efforts by the international community, especially Muslim countries, to bring peace in Palestine, a statement by his office said. 

The prime minister was speaking to Qatari Ambassador Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater, who called on Kakar in Islamabad, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. 

Qatar, with the support of the United States and Egypt, was engaged in intense negotiations in November to establish and prolong a truce between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. The pause in fighting allowed both sides to exchange hostages. 

“The Prime Minister said that Pakistan appreciated the role played by Qatar in diplomatic efforts that led to a temporary cease-fire in Gaza,” the PMO said.

“And stressed the need for concerted efforts by the international community, particularly the Muslim Ummah, to bring peace in Palestine.”

The two representatives also discussed bilateral cooperation, trade and investment during their meeting. 

Kakar said Pakistan and Qatar enjoyed “strong, fraternal ties,” the PMO said. The Pakistani prime minister expressed Islamabad’s desire to expand bilateral cooperation across all spheres, particularly trade and investment, with Qatar. 

Pakistan constituted the Special Investment Facilitation Center (SIFC) in June last year to attract international investments, mainly from the Gulf countries, to its vital sectors. 

“Emphasizing Pakistan’s focus on the GCC region, the Prime Minister said that SIFC was playing an active role to attract investors from the Gulf countries, including Qatar, to benefit from opportunities in key sectors of the economy,” the PMO said. 

He also encouraged the ambassador to explore the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of media and tourism. 

Israel’s relentless bombing in Gaza has killed over 22,000 people since Oct. 7. The Jewish state has ignored calls from the international community for a cease-fire and continues with its relentless bombing and ground assaults in Gaza. 

With thousands of Palestinian women and children killed, enraged protests across the world have called for Israel to be held accountable for “war crimes” in Palestine. Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has called for an immediate cease-fire and a separate homeland for the Palestinians with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.