Prime Minister emphasizes foreign policy priorities in address to the Envoys Conference

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chaired the concluding session of the Envoys Conference at the Foreign Office, today. Pakistan’s Envoys from the Middle East region participated in the three-day Conference, held from 4-6 May 2014.

The Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs

Syed Tariq Fatemi, Federal Secretaries and senior officials from relevant Ministries and Departments also attended the concluding session.

In his wide-ranging address, the Prime Minister underscored that the defining principle of Pakistan’s foreign policy remained “peace for development” -i.e. building a peaceful external environment so that the core national objective of economic development could be advanced. Outlining his vision and foreign policy priorities, the Prime Minister laid particular emphasis on building a peaceful neighbourhood, intensifying economic diplomacy, ensuring welfare of Pakistani Diaspora, and projecting Pakistan’s positive image.

The Prime Minister urged the Envoys to direct their efforts in enhancing and diversifying Pakistan’s trade and building cooperation in the areas of investment, energy, export of manpower, and infrastructure. He further underscored the importance of facilitating Pakistan’s expatriate community and utilizing their potential.

Earlier in the concluding session, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry briefed the Prime Minister on the discussions in the Envoys Conference and presented recommendations of the Conference for implementing policy guidelines of the government and enhancing Pakistan’s ties with countries in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs periodically organizes Envoys Conferences, in which Pakistan’s Envoys in key Missions abroad, together with senior officials in relevant Ministries and Departments in Islamabad, discuss issues pertaining to Pakistan’s cooperation with other countries at bilateral and multilateral levels.

May 06, 2014
Islamabad