ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that Pakistan is today more connected with the world than before.
While giving a gist of conclusions and recommendations emerging from the three-day Envoy’s Conference at its concluding session in Islamabad on Wednesday, Sartaj Aziz said that the objective assessment of three years does not support the view being projected in a section of media that Pakistan is being isolated and its foreign policy lags directions.
Sartaj Aziz said that we are, in fact, now more integrated than before. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a strong, vibrant and prosperous Pakistan and peaceful neighbourhood has been pursued with great dedication.
The advisor said that monumental achievements of the government in foreign policy are reflected in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and strategic partnership with China. Similarly, Pakistan has today more engagement and cooperation with Central Asian Republics as reflected in CASA-1000 electricity import project and Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
The foreign affairs advisor said that Pakistan achieved full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) reflecting new geo-political re-alignment of the region which will prove that Pakistan is on the right side of history.
The advisor also noted that Pakistan resumed strategic dialogue with the United States and further broadened agenda of security and economic development while protecting Pakistan’s vital national interests. He said that Pakistan also has strong ties with European Union and Russian Federation.
Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan has expanded its ties with the Muslim world and it is because of this that despite decline in oil prices last year, Pakistan exported 950,000 workers which include 523 million to Saudi Arabia and 326 million to United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is a big addition in a single year to our work force abroad.
The advisor on foreign affairs also dwelt at Pakistan’s active role in UN and other regional bodies.
