Fourth meeting of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi chaired fourth meeting of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Advisory Council discussed recent developments and key issues in the foreign policy domain.

In his remarks, the Foreign Minister outlined Pakistan’s active engagements with the international community along bilateral and multilateral tracks. In this regard, he referred to recently held strategic dialogues with the EU, China and his participation in the OIC’s ministerial meeting in Istanbul.

The Foreign Minister emphasised that Pakistan remained committed to peace in the region. He reiterated Pakistan’s support to efforts for achieving enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan. He underlined that Pakistan had repeatedly called for de-escalation with India and had taken positive overtures towards it.

The Council members also discussed measures to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, training of diplomats and ways to make economic diplomacy more effective. The Foreign Minister appreciated contribution of the Council members in these areas.

He informed the Council that the Government attached high importance to facilitation of overseas diaspora by Pakistan’s missions abroad and would continue to further build on existing facilitation mechanisms.

Mr. Razak Dawood, Advisor for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, and Investment also participated in the meeting.

Next meeting of the Council will be held in May.

Islamabad

10 April 2019

161/2019