PM Gilani urges Muslim world to carve out economic order

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday urged the Muslim countries to work together to build a strong Islamic intellectual base, carve out an Islamic vision of a political and economic order founded on moral principles, egalitarian values and participate positively in shaping the world.
“This is the demand of our times, and we should not fail,” he said while addressing an Iftar-dinner hosted for the ambassadors and diplomats of the Muslim countries at the Prime Minister house.

The prime minister said, “Indeed, building our inherent strengths and taking our destiny in our own hands was the guarantee for advancing our individual and collective interests in a meaningful way. “Only this will help us seek peace and justice for our struggling brothers - be they in Palestine or Kashmir or any other troubled part of the world. Only this will enable us to build a better future for our coming generations, full of promise and hope,” he added.

He said Pakistan had, therefore, welcomed President Obama’s call from Cairo, for a new beginning between America and the Muslim world based on mutual respect and mutual interest. We believe it was the right way forward.

The prime minister said Pakistan would continue to support all the initiatives aimed at building bridges of trust and understanding. “We will actively promote efforts for inter-faith dialogue,” he added.

He said the vision of our founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah consistently emphasized the imperative of Islamic brotherhood, goodwill and cooperation.

Accordingly, he said the Islamic Ummah had always occupied a place of prominence in Pakistan’s foreign policy. “We supported the struggles of many Muslim states against colonial rule, and actively promoted their right to self-determination. We also made our modest contribution to their post-independence national development efforts,” he added.

The prime minister said Pakistan had been in the vanguard of advancing the ideals and objectives of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). “We continue to espouse Muslim causes around the world. We are equally grateful for the affection, support and solidarity that we have received from our brotherly Muslim countries at every important juncture of Pakistan’s history,” he added.

He said Pakistan deeply appreciated that the Islamic countries had been an indispensable source of support and strength to the people of Pakistan whether it was forging closer political ties, deepening trade and economic relations, promoting Pakistan’s development goals or extending relief assistance after the devastating earthquake of October 2005.

“We are proud of the multifaceted relationships we have developed with our brothers in the Gulf, in the wider Middle Eastern region and through the vast expanse of the African and Asian continents. We wish to comprehensively upgrade these relationships,” he added.

The premier said Pakistan’s major priorities included increased exports, more foreign remittances, greater foreign direct inflows and enhanced market access with Free Trade Agreements as the principal instrument. “We are equally committed to deepening our security and defense ties, expanding educational and cultural cooperation, and strengthening people-to-people contacts,” he added.