ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has called for chalking out a Global Action Plan to counter the alarming surge in Islamophobia.

She was addressing the 9th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), being hosted by the Moroccan city of Fez from November 22-23.

She stressed the importance of continued and robust inter-religious, inter-civilizational and inter-faith dialogue as a ‘catalyst to promote peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding and harmony’.

The Minister of State articulated Pakistan’s perspective and concerns about the growing problem of religious intolerance, discrimination, Islamophobia and violence worldwide.

She particularly drew attention towards state-driven discrimination, hostility, and phobia directed against Muslims and Islam, and the ensuing climate of impunity for such heinous acts.

She urged that given its pervasive and widely documented impacts, it was time for the international community and the United Nations to formulate an action plan to meaningfully address the insidious phenomenon of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred.

In her remarks at the high-level Ministerial Meeting of the UNAOC Group of Friends, H.E. Mrs. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan 🇵🇰, said, “We can defeat the plague of religious intolerance by bridging divides and accepting our differences.” pic.twitter.com/HZiyPuNsFO

— UNAOC – United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (@UNAOC) November 22, 2022

A statement by the Foreign Office said the UN Alliance of Civilizations was created in 2005 in response to tensions between the Muslim world and the West in the aftermath of 9/11. One of its core objectives is to advance mutual respect for all cultures, traditions and religious beliefs.

The 9th Forum is being held under the overarching theme of ‘Towards an Alliance of Peace: Living Together as One Humanity’. As a member of the UNAOC Group of Friends, Pakistan has been actively contributing in advancing the Alliance’s mandate.

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