Today, Wednesday, December 08th, 2021 his Excellency Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan Ambassador of Pakistan to Morocco held a conference on the Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference (OIC) of Foreign Ministers which will be held in Islamabad on December 19th 2021.

His Excellency Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Morocco, stated that Afghanistan is currently facing a serious humanitarian crisis, noting that millions of people, including women and children, are in dire need of food, medicine and basic life necessities, and directly inviting all foreign ministers “l’OCI” to participate in the OIC conference.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Pakistan mentioned that Pakistan welcomed the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit – to convene a special meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on the situation in Afghanistan, following Pakistan’s offer to host the session, which was scheduled to take place in Islamabad on 19 December 2021.

His Excellency also mentioned that Afghan people are in need of the total support of international community’s support including OIC as well as financial and in-kind support.

In a response to Morocco Telegraph’s question about the influence of Morocco on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan said that the idea of OIC was born in Morocco, it was an initiative of his Majesty King Hassan II who gathered the Muslim leaders in Morocco; so, Morocco is considered the spiritual home of the initiative.
He also mentioned that Afghanistan is one of the founder members of the OIC as well as Pakistan and Morocco.

Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan highlighted Morocco’s clear vision regarding emancipation of women as equal partners in the development of the nation. Stating that during the Covid-19 pandemic the government came out with a very good policy to assist people who have lost their jobs.

H.E also mentioned that in the new national development plan the number one emphasis is on the youth and children so that they can be educated and they can be provided with the skills to contribute towards national economy.

Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan said: “the role of Morocco, if you take these three points helping elderly, empowering women and educating children is what Pakistan is asking for.” Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan.

His Excellency also mentioned that Morocco is an important partner as it has the exact policy and philosophy that Pakistan needs, and that Morocco uses its influence on the other brotherly countries to assist Pakistan in this crisis.

The post Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan Ambassador of Pakistan to Morocco held a conference on the Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference (OIC) of Foreign Ministers appeared first on Morocco Telegraph.

In an exclusive statement conducted by Morocco Telegraph with Pakistan Ambassador to Morocco His Excellency Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan.

The statement is about the development of Morocco and Pakistan relationships and also investments and trade between the two fraternal countries, His Excellency
stressed Pakistan’s position regarding the Sahara case.

Here is the full text of the statement:
I would like to begin by thanking you M. Le Editor, M Aziz Eddriouchi for affording me this opportunity to reflect upon Pakistani and Moroccan ties in broad terms.
Allow me also to first congratulate the Government and people of Morocco for having celebrated the 66th anniversary of their independence on Thursday 18 November, 2021.
Pakistan and Morocco enjoy warm cordial and fact fraternal ties going back in history.

The young nation of Pakistan which gained its own independence in 1947, made it a point to be proactively supportive of Morocco’s independence movement in the early 1950’s.In fact, M. Ahmed Balafrej was issued with a Pakistani diplomatic passport to enable him to speak in favor of Moroccan independence from the Pakistan desk at the United Nations in New York.

Today, we are delighted that our Mission is situated on Avenue Balafrej, and that is a tangible reminder of this historic connection between the two brotherly countries which share many similarities. Pakistan is a keen observer of the tremendous and positive socio-economic developments that have taken place in the Kingdom, especially in recent years under the sagacious guidance and rule of His Majesty King Mohammad VI.

Morocco and Pakistan have much in common in addition to their colonial past. Both enjoy an important geo-strategic location on their respective continents, with key ports providing international connectivity and thus trade opportunities. Both have predominantly Muslim populations with close historic ties to the countries of the Gulf and Middle East, and are important and active members of the OIC.

Both countries also confront challenging circumstances in their immediate regions with difficulties that have on occasion led to armed conflict with neighbors. The UNSC has active files on both the Kashmir as well as the Sahara. Robust cooperation and understanding exists with both sides being supportive of each other at international forums. Pakistan has never recognized nor engaged with the Polisario or the SADR.

Just prior to the outbreak of the Pandemic we have had two important high level official delegations from Pakistan that took place at the invitation of His Majesty’s government. In 2019 the Embassy hosted a Biryani -rice- festival to showcase Pakistani cuisine and hosted a delegation from the federal chamber of commerce.

The Embassy also established the office of the Defence Attache at Rabat and Bilateral Political Consultations took place between the two sides in Islamabad after a gap of a few years in early 2020.

Pakistan is a regular importer of Phosphate to meet its constant fertilizer needs and in fact has a significant joint venture with the OCP in Morocco. Pakistan’s Fauji Foundation is an equal partner in Pak-Maroc Phosphore and the project that is an example of successful commercial cooperation. Active discussions are currently underway to develop on this success to finalize new investments in both Pakistan as well as Morocco.

Trade and investment ties can certainly be improved on, but to truly enable the same we would need to see progress on the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement. It is hoped that mutual visits by the two Foreign Ministers in the coming months will also greatly energize bilateral ties.

We also feel that there is tremendous scope to enhance cooperation in tourism,water research, the areas of food security, urban waste management and counter-terror defence, migration and intelligence areas.

Morocco’s supply chain management and tackling of the Pandemic emergency has remained excellent and its special industrial zones, and the success of the Tanger-Med Port are achievements that we greatly admire. The elected regional and local governments play a great role in public service delivery as significant decentralization has greatly empowered them.

The situation in Afghanistan continues to present a challenge to the global community. Pakistan is fully supportive of the formation of a broad based and inclusive government that respects the rights of women and ensures equal access for female students. We are against any reprisals and persecution of functionaries of the previous regimes.

Pakistan strongly believes that the territory of Afghanistan must not be allowed to be used by any extremist or militant organizations, and we appreciate the fact that the Taliban have repeatedly stated that Afghan soil will not be used to harm or attack any other nation. Pakistan as an immediate neighbor is most impacted by developments in Afghanistan, and we wish to be a robust partner for peace, stability and development.

In recent months a number of joint military training exercises at various levels have been held at multiple locations between the armed forces of Pakistan and Morocco. This is a part of the overall bilateral relationship which is developing in all fields.

Despite the linguistic barrier and physical distance, and the preoccupation with respective regional imperatives, the Embassy is optimistic to enhance bilateral connectivity in a number of spheres. In this regard cooperation agreements have been signed with the MAP as well as the IRES and National Library of Morocco in the last one year.

Pakistan shall also be the ‘pays d’honneur’ at next years Diplomatic Car Rally and also at the next edition of the ‘International Salon de Bois’ to be held at Meknes. A textile exhibition, musical performance and art exhibition are also planned in the first few months of next year

With mutual interest and consistent efforts from both sides, we are confident that the future of bilateral ties shall be as warm and mutually rewarding as our past history. It is hoped that in the coming years the level of commercial, trade and investment ties will match the warmth, mutual respect and friendliness felt by the people on both sides.

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