ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday welcomed the United Nations decision to ask its member states to take legislative and policy measures to prevent discrimination, religious intolerance, negative stereotyping and violence against Muslims around the world after a resolution against Islamophobia was adopted by the General Assembly with overwhelming majority.
The resolution, advocating for necessary actions to counter Islamophobia, was introduced by Pakistan’s representative at the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
This was in continuation to a previous resolution that established March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia, marking the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand, where 51 worshippers were killed during Friday prayers.
“The General Assembly has condemned the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of the Holy Qur’an, attacks on mosques, sites and shrines and other acts of religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred and violence against Muslims,” the foreign office said in an official statement.
“The General assembly has also called upon the Member States to take legislative and policy measures to combat religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred, incitement to violence and violence against Muslims,” it continued.
The foreign office said Pakistan welcomed the General Assembly’s call for the appointment of a UN special envoy to deal with the rampant issue of anti-Muslim bias around the world.
“This historic appointment will be the first of its kind, exclusively dedicated to combating the scourge of Islamophobia,” the statement added.
Ambassador Akram told the General Assembly during his speech that Muslims were discriminated against in the immigration policies of various countries and faced travel bans around the world.
He noted that they faced hateful acts like the desecration of their scripture, pointing out that seven such incidents had been recorded in last year alone.
“For those who adhere to the principles of inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony, it is entirely evident that bold and decisive actions are needed to counter and combat Islamophobia,” he said while calling the world body to appoint a special envoy to address the problem of Islamophobia.
“This is also the purpose of the draft resolution,” he added.
Pakistan applauds UN call for member states to implement policy actions against Islamophobia
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Pakistan applauds UN call for member states to implement policy actions against Islamophobia
- The world body adopted a resolution seeking measures to combat Islamophobia with overwhelming majority
- General Assembly also called for the appointment of a UN envoy to deal with the rampant problem around the world
Pakistan reviews austerity measures amid Middle East crisis, urges strict nationwide implementation
- Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chairs review meeting of austerity steps
- Officials briefed on salary cuts, school closures, four‑day week, petrol conservation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Wednesday assessed progress on a sweeping set of austerity measures introduced to mitigate the country’s economic strain from sharply rising global oil prices and supply disruptions linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week announced a series of austerity steps, including a four‑day work week for government offices, requiring 50 percent of staff to work from home, cutting fuel allowances for official vehicles by half, grounding up to 60 percent of the government fleet and closing all schools for two weeks to conserve fuel amid the global oil crisis.
The measures were unveiled in response to global oil market volatility triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and pushed crude prices sharply higher, straining Pakistan’s heavily import‑dependent energy sector.
“The meeting stressed the importance of strict and transparent adherence to the austerity measures, promoting fiscal responsibility and prudent use of public resources,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said in a statement.
He was chairing a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Conservation and Additional Austerity Measures, constituted under the directions of the PM, bringing together federal and provincial officials to review execution of the broad cost‑cutting plan.
Dar emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing the PM’s austerity steps nationwide. The committee’s review also covered reductions in departmental expenditure, deductions from salaries of senior officials earning over Rs. 300,000 ($1,120), and coordination with provincial administrations to ensure uniform implementation of the plan.
Participants at the meeting reiterated that all ministries and divisions must continue strict monitoring and reporting, with transparent oversight mechanisms, as Pakistan navigates the economic pressures from the prolonged Middle East crisis and its fallout on global energy and trade markets.
