By Our Diplomatic
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday while highlighting government’s paradigm shift from geo-political contestation to geo-economic cooperation urged envoys to make concerted efforts to implement the economic agenda.
As part of government’s efforts to promote economic diplomacy, the foreign minister chaired an interactive session on economic diplomacy with participation by Pakistan’s Envoys to the USA, Turkey, Austria, Iran, Russia, the Netherlands, and Permanent Representatives to New York and Geneva.
While underscoring the growing significance of geo-economics in international politics, Qureshi said that economic security was a crucial function of national security.
Apprising about the government’s robust reform measures for improvement of business climate in the country, he said that Pakistan’s ranking in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ had significantly improved. “Pakistan had secured 6th place among the world’s top 10 business climate improvers and its Business Confidence Ranking increased by 39 points as per OICCI’s latest survey, he added.
The foreign minister also commended the pivotal role played by the ministry of foreign affairs and its missions abroad in safeguarding Pakistan’s economic interests, especially in the successful implementation of the government’s various initiatives/programmes such as Roshan Digital Account Initiative.
During the session, the participants identified the bottlenecks impeding bilateral economic cooperation with the envoys giving their recommendations in this regard. They provided valuable input and insight on how to enhance economic cooperation at bilateral and regional levels.
In line with the prime minister’s vision, foreign minister Qureshi had consistently stressed on promotion of economic diplomacy and increased economic cooperation with partner countries. Regular virtual meetings and interactions on economic diplomacy with the Pakistani envoys in key capitals are part of these efforts.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday said the UNSC resolution to provide aid to Afghan people and US exemption to allow business with Taliban were major developments, made after the recently held OIC foreign ministers’ moot here.
The Security Council resolution, passed unanimously Wednesday, said, “This resolution provides an exemption from the UN Security Council assets freeze against listed members of the Taliban and associated entities solely for the provision of humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan, which the council will review in one year.
