ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday strongly condemning the ongoing violence and grave human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar.
The resolution moved by Minister for Law Zahid Hamid deplored the systematic and organized destruction of villages and homes of Rohingya Muslims.
It reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with Rohingya Muslims for the realization of their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights.
The resolution called upon the international community especially the Human Rights Council to urge Myanmar government to ensure protection of the rights of Muslims, investigate the incidents of human rights violations against them and hold the perpetrators of violence accountable.
It urged the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims.
Speaking on the resolution, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that a special meeting of OIC should be held on Rohingya Muslims.
In a written reply, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif informed the House that Pakistan is in close contact with South Asian countries to host SAARC summit as soon as possible.
He said the postponement of 19th SAARC summit, which was scheduled to take place in Islamabad in November 2015, was not only disappointing for Pakistan but it was also a blow to the collective development of the region.
He said Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation and connectivity for promoting peace and accelerating the pace of economic development.
Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch told the National Assembly that the International community needs to create conducive conditions in Afghanistan for repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland.
He said the process of repatriation of Afghan refugees has slowed down and only seventy thousand refugees returned to Afghanistan this year.
He said he will visit Geneva next month to attend a meeting and apprise the world community about the difficulties in repatriation of the Afghan refugees.
Responding to a call attention notice, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House that Pakistan has strongly taken up with Swiss authorities the issue of display of Free Balochistan posters in Geneva.
He said there is no doubt that our enemies would have funded this massive campaign. He said there are clear proofs that India is supporting separatist elements in Balochistan.
He said under the UN Charter, separatist and terrorist outfits, such as Balochistan Liberation Army, cannot carry out any activity on foreign land against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other country.
Minister for Commerce and Textile Pervez Malik told the House that the government has given a package of one hundred eighty billion rupees to the business community for enhancing the country’s exports.
He said this package will be available to those who would achieve an increase of ten percent in annual exports.
He said under short-term measures, four products, including Basmati rice, horticulture, meat products and jewellery, are being focused.
Pervez Malik said the government is undertaking consistent efforts for getting additional market access for Pakistani products.
For this purpose, free trade agreement negotiations with Turkey and Thailand are at an advanced stage while negotiations with Iran on FTA are also being initiated.
