———– Lauds EU’s continued support for GSP plus status
From Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasized that Pakistan is a firm believer in the protection of fundamental rights and will continue to enact and strengthen human rights legislation.
He was talking to EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olaf Skoog in Islamabad. During the meeting, he underscored the importance of Pakistan-EU dialogue on human rights.
Deputy Prime Minister further highlighted Pakistan-EU’s growing cooperation in the political and economic spheres and appreciated EU’s continued support for Pakistan’s GSP plus status.
The EU special representative positively assessed the potential of Pakistan-EU relations and appreciated the continued growth of the collaborative partnership across all sectors.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that Pakistan’s so-called diplomatic isolation had ended while the country’s economy was moving towards improvement.
Speaking to media here, he said the perception of Pakistan’s isolation on the international stage had been dispelled by the government through active diplomacy at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
Dar stated that nobody could now say that Pakistan was isolated. He attributed this to the country’s consistent and successful approach in expanding its diplomatic footprint. Alluding to the election of Pakistan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the eighth time, he said Pakistan would fully play its role with the collaboration of other member states. Dar expressed Pakistan’s firm commitment to combat terrorism.
The foreign minister said better trade and economic relations with Afghanistan had been Islamabad’s top priority, and that this would also improve links with the Central Asian countries.
Regarding India, he said “it takes two to tango”. Pakistan wanted improved relations with Delhi provided “there is goodwill from the Indian side also,” he added.
However, he made it clear that it must be a two-way effort.
The deputy prime minister expressed satisfaction over improvement in economic indicators, noting that inflation had decreased to five percent, while exports and remittances were increasing. He said Pakistan, as a nuclear and missile power, would achieve its rightful status in the global community with continued economic progress.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has commended the OIC’s principled stance and unwavering support for the just struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.
He was talking to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, who called on him in Islamabad on Saturday. The Deputy Prime Minister while welcoming the OIC Secretary General to Pakistan, expressed his appreciation for the appointment of OIC’s special envoy on Islamophobia.
Ishaq Dar also appreciated the high level participation from the OIC in the international conference on “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities”.
The two sides also discussed the situation in Gaza and the Middle East, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Afghanistan, Islamophobia, discrimination and violence against Muslims across the globe.
