ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Pakistan desk is keen to organise food festivals, trade fares, and other business events, a statement said on Wednesday.

During a visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Islamabad office, OIC permanent representative and Ambassador in Pakistan Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said that now it is the era of technology and the world is now a global village.

Let’s work together to bring Pakistani products in the OIC markets and to focus on strengthening bilateral trade relations between the OIC countries, he said, adding that the two sides agreed to jointly work on it.

Pakistan has the potential for enhancement of trade and to work for the export sector in the near future, he said, adding that the country has to utilise the opportunities and facilities available on the OIC platform and has to focus on the problems being faced by Pakistan.

“We are always available to resolve the problems of the businessmen of Pakistan and will communicate them to the OIC countries.”

Pakistan is basically an agrarian country and can hugely contribute to the Halal food industry, but unfortunately it has no share. Iran, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and others are very keenly and positively using the OIC platform, he added.

“We need to activate and use our energies for interaction with the OIC countries, as until and unless we have trade enhancement our brotherly relationships will not be that much strong as it has to be,” the OIC representative added.

Sheikh said: “A food festival in Lahore, trade fair in Karachi and a trade ambassadors meeting in Islamabad is scheduled to be held in the near future. And we need cooperation and coordination of [the] private sector to take further steps.

“In these fairs and a trade meeting, we are expecting participation by a large number of the business community. We have trade research institutes interlinked with the OIC Pakistan desk and I wish that Pakistan will also avail this opportunity,” he added.

Haji Qurban Ali, head of the FPCCI Islamabad office and Mirza Abdul Rehman, coordinator of the FPCCI Islamabad office, said that the FPCCI facilitation desk is always available to provide any services to the OIC Pakistan desk, and ready to work with the OIC permanent representative and his team.

They wish him good luck for the goals and targets to be achieved with mutual understanding. The business community always stands with the OIC, he added.

“We are thankful to you for your time and attention, for interaction with the business community of Pakistan,” they added/

The FPCCI office-bearers said: “We value your words and emotions for Pakistan and its development.”

Sheikh said that the OIC has to include Pakistan’s name for the vice president seat in the OIC, adding that a lot of Islamic countries stand with India, as they have lobbied to shift the OIC headquarters from Pakistan, as well.

He said he was hopeful that with cooperation of the Pakistani business community, the OIC will tackle such problems permanently.

He said he foresaw a bright future for Pakistan in the OIC in the near future.

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