ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured consensus in the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on a resolution to fund the newly established Office of the Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, officials said on Saturday.
The Fifth Committee is one of six main committees at the UNGA, which deals with internal United Nations administrative and budgetary matters. The resolution on revised budget estimates was adopted during the closing session of the first part of the 79th UNGA.
Jibran Khan Durrani, first secretary at Pakistan’s UN mission, delivered the national statement at the session, expressing gratitude to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Group of 77 (G77) and China, and other international partners for their support.
“My delegation welcomes the consensual outcome of the resolution of the revised estimates of Islamophobia, an agenda item which was very important for my delegation as well as other OIC countries,” he said.
“My delegation extends sincere gratitude to the support extended by all members of the Group of 77 and China, OIC countries, and welcomes the constructive discussion that we had with our partners during the course of negotiations, making the consensus the first among all the consensual outcomes of this session.”
The Office of the Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia will be established effective from April 1, according to the resolution. Its mandate will include monitoring, reporting and advising on rising Islamophobic trends globally and supporting the UN’s broader efforts against religious intolerance.
Pakistan played a leading role in the Fifth Committee discussions and the adoption of the resolution marks a milestone in Islamabad’s multilateral engagement, following its successful push to designate March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022.
“We look forward to working with all delegation members in the upcoming session in the same spirit,” Durrani said, thanking the attendees, the 5th Committee Secretariat and all those who were part of the negotiations.
This month, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to reverse an “alarming tide” of Islamophobia as the world marked the international day to combat the phenomenon.
He said March 15 not only serves as a “stark reminder” of the gravity of the challenges being faced by Muslims worldwide, but also as a powerful call to action, reflecting the collective will of the international community to combat Islamophobia through concrete legislative and policy measures.
“However, much more is urgently needed to reverse the alarming tide of Islamophobia and end the flagrant violations of fundamental human rights and religious freedoms,” Sharif said in a statement.
“At a time when religious intolerance is on the rise, we reaffirm that no justification exists for blasphemy or the desecration of sacred symbols under the guise of freedom of expression.”
Sharif said Pakistan was extremely proud to have led this important initiative at the UN and welcomed actions taken by some member states to outlaw the desecration of the Holy Qur’an as well as to address systemic marginalization of Muslims, urging the international community, human rights organizations, and global leaders to raise awareness against Islamophobia.
Pakistan secures consensus at UN on funding to appoint Islamophobia envoy
https://arab.news/cnavq
Pakistan secures consensus at UN on funding to appoint Islamophobia envoy
- The resolution on revised budget estimates for Office of the Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia was adopted during first part of 79th UNGA session
- The adoption marks a milestone for Islamabad’s multilateral engagement, following designation of March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia
Pakistan PM calls for faster CPEC implementation, pledges security for Chinese workers
- Shehbaz Sharif pushes expanded cooperation in agriculture, IT and mining under CPEC phase two
- Chinese envoy reaffirms Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic development
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for speeding up projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and pledged stronger security guarantees for Chinese workers and investments, during a meeting with China’s ambassador in Islamabad.
Sharif made the remarks as the two countries strive to launch the second phase of CPEC, a multibillion-dollar infrastructure and energy initiative launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
CPEC’s first phase focused largely on power generation and transport infrastructure aimed at easing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and improving connectivity. The second phase seeks to expand cooperation into industrial development, with an emphasis on special economic zones and export-oriented growth.
“While highlighting the importance of accelerating ongoing CPEC projects, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to enhance cooperation in agriculture and IT and mining & minerals,” said a statement circulated by the PM Office after the meeting.
“He also underscored Pakistan’s resolve to provide a secure and conducive environment for Chinese personnel, investments, and institutions in Pakistan,” it added.
Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan have faced security threats in the past, including attacks by militant groups targeting infrastructure sites and convoys. Islamabad has repeatedly vowed to tighten security and has deployed special protection units for Chinese workers.
China is Pakistan’s closest ally in the region and a key economic partner, with CPEC widely regarded by Islamabad as central to long-term economic growth.
During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, particularly on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.
China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, reiterated Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and socioeconomic development, according to the statement. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues and agreed to maintain close coordination.
