Pakistan won’t be part of any camp in US-Iran tension: FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan will not be part of any camp in the US-Iran tension. Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs with Ehsanullah Tiwana in the chair on Tuesday, he said that the effect of joining any camp would be on Pakistan. “Some powers want to mar Pak-China relations by exaggerating the marriage issue. We will follow an effective strategy to deal with human smuggling,” he said. The minister said that Pakistan does not want any tension with Iran under these circumstances. “The United States has not imposed any visa restrictions against Pakistan. However, it is going to deport over 70 illegal Pakistanis. Pakistan has asked the United States to fulfill legal requirements about the Pakistanis being deported,” he said. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan is facilitating intra-Afghan dialogue. He informed the committee that he would pay two-day visit to Kuwait on Saturday and would meet the Kuwaiti leadership. “I will also take a letter from Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Emir of Kuwait on the visa issue. Enhancement of bilateral trade will be discussed in the meetings, he said, adding that the Emir of Qatar was also expected to visit Pakistan in future. The minister said that Pakistan and China were reviewing the matter of human smuggling and an effective policy would be framed in this regard. “Some forces want to affect Pakistan-China relations,” he concluded.

Pakistan approached IMF due to economic instability: FM Qureshi

Earlier addressing the Senate on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan had approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to economic instability. He said that the previous government had departed without announcing the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. “We will not distribute funds whimsically like the previous government,” he said. The minister questioned that why the PPP not observing the destruction of Sindh. “AIDS has spread in entire Sindh and the conditions of Tharparkar are not hidden from anyone,” he said. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said those taunting the government had gone to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) several times. About the appointment of SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqar, he said that Raza Baqar is the son of Pakistan. “He has come to Pakistan on low wages. He has been appointed as he fulfilled the eligibility criteria,” he said. The minister said that no presidential system was being enforced in the country. “The country is heading to One Unit. There is neither threat to China Pakistan Economic Corridor nor nuclear assets,” he said.