The current government has made several achievements on the foreign policy front: Tarar

ISLAMABAD, June 11 (APP): Federal Minister of Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said that the present government after coming to power has taken initiatives that have resulted in many achievements on the foreign policy front.

Delivering a speech on the occasion of the launch ceremony of the National Security and Foreign Policy Report, he said that foreign policy is the top priority of the current dispensation.
“We are a responsible nuclear country and our importance in the world cannot be denied,” he said, adding that Pakistan believes in peace, not war.

The minister said that Pakistan was recently elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council with a majority of 182 votes, which is a proof of its successful foreign policy.

“We maintain trade relations with Iran and the late Iranian president’s visit to Pakistan was also a success,” he said.
He had earlier said that a high-level Saudi delegation also visited Pakistan to tap the investment potential.

Tarar said 68 percent of Pakistan’s population is young and focusing on technical training is the government’s top priority.

He said that recently Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a historic visit to China with renewed determination.

The minister noted that Pakistan is a huge market in the field of information technology and added that
the China-Pakistan economic corridor was modernized.

He said Huawei, which has launched two ‘Safe City’ projects in Pakistan, has offered free training to 200,000 Pakistani information technology professionals annually.

The minister said that the government’s priority is also economic security, adding: “Thanks to the government’s initiatives, the economy is on the path to recovery. Foreign exchange reserves are increasing, a
the rupee is stabilizing. The inflation rate in the country has dropped significantly.”

He said the Special Investment Facilities Board had played an important role in this regard.

Tarar said the current government’s slogan is aid, not trade.
“We have heard about cricket and agricultural diplomacy in the past,” he said, adding that the current government’s foreign policy initiatives have ended Pakistan’s isolation.
The minister said that after the conflict between Iran and Israel, the president of Iran came to Pakistan.

He said that in the geopolitical situation, Iran is also a partner of Pakistan, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the funeral prayer of the President of Iran.

The minister said that a high-level Saudi delegation also visited Pakistan and signed several investment agreements in Pakistan.

The purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit to China was to launch the second phase of CPEC, he added
training 200,000 young people in the IT industry by Huawei was a major achievement.
He added that both countries are moving towards an improved version of CPEC.

Referring to the Bisham incident, he said a thorough investigation was carried out into the matter.
The minister said that after the incident, Chinese engineers and workers were assured of their safety.

“Our priority is to ensure security as well as economic security,” he said, adding that over the last two months the government has taken priority actions in the field of security and foreign policy.

The minister said Pakistan was committed to good relations with all its neighbors and regional allies.

He said Pakistan contributed less than 2 percent of carbon dioxide emissions but had to suffer greatly from the effects of climate change.

The minister said that during the floods in Pakistan, the UN Secretary General visited Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan is suffering from the effects of climate change and it is the responsibility of countries that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change to help Pakistan counter its effects.

The minister said it was the government’s job to run businesses.

He said that the Prime Minister was accompanied by 120 businessmen during his visit to China.

Tarar said Pakistan could provide opportunities for Chinese investors
lower production cost.