Pakistan focusing attention to regional peace: Qureshi

London: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is focusing its attention to regional

peace and stability.

Addressing the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting in London, he pointed out that Pakistan has

been hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the last many decades.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan has registered unprecedented successes in the war on terrorism. We

have a National Action Plan to defeat terrorism and extremism.

He said the tribal districts have been brought into the national mainstream by merging them with Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa. It is the first time that the tribal districts are being given representation in the provincial

assembly.

The Foreign Minister said concrete steps have been taken to check money laundering and terror financing.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistani government is pursuing pro investment and pro-business policies. He

said Pakistan is an emerging market with a population of about two hundred million people.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said China Pakistan Economic Corridor project provides a platform for sustainable

development. He said Pakistan will welcome Commonwealth’s partnership in the special economic zones to be

established under the mega corridor project.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan is determined to achieve sustainable development goals. He said we have

started Ehsaas Program to protect the vulnerable segments of the society. He said the country has also started

Sehat Sahulat programme to provide health cover to the deprived segments of the society.

The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan is fully cognizant of the challenge posed by Climate Change and has

set the target of planting ten billion trees in five years.

The Foreign Minister also briefed the Commonwealth meeting about the steps taken by Pakistan for protection

of rights of women and minorities.