Islamabad:
President AIF Zardari said on Tuesday that Pakistan evaluated its economic ties with Morocco and had seen a large potential to stimulate bilateral cooperation.
He made these remarks at a meeting with the ambassador of Morocco, Mohamed Karmoune, who called him to Aiwan-E-Sadr, said a press release.
The president observed that Africa is ready for significant economic growth in the coming years, and Morocco, with its remarkable economic development, is well placed to direct this transformation and contribute to regional prosperity.
He added that Pakistan and Morocco benefit from fraternal links, based on common faith, shared values and mutual respect, which must still be reinforced for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The president noted that Pakistan is committed to further improving bilateral cooperation with Morocco in various fields. He expressed his gratitude for Morocco for his support in Pakistan during the floods of 2022, noting that such gestures reflect the depth of friendship between the two nations.
By reaffirming that Pakistan and Morocco benefit from close and fraternal links, the president expressed his best wishes for the continuous health of King Mohammed VI. He also asked the ambassador to transmit good will and warm greetings of the people of Pakistan to the king and the people of Morocco.
Meanwhile, the president urged intensified efforts to protect the rights of minorities, promote religious tolerance and guarantee that the restoration of places of worship occupied illegally, reaffirming that minorities are an integral part of the social and national fabric of Pakistan.
He made these remarks at a meeting in Aiwan-E-Sadr with the Minister of Religious Affairs and Interconfessional Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, who informed him of the ministry’s initiatives, in particular political measures, social protection programs and an interconfessional commitment, said a statement of presidency.
President Zardari congratulated the work of the ministry in the protection of minority rights and the organization of the celebrations of the National Minority Day, while calling for more concrete and targeted actions to ensure justice and inclusiveness. The Minister shared that during the year 2024-25, the minority well-being fund provided 60 million rupees on the stock markets to 2,236 students, financial aid at 1,231 individuals and 45 million rupees for the repair and the supply of 32 places of minority worship.
He also underlined a new national policy on interconfessional harmony, official celebrations of the main minority festivals and interconfessional conferences on a national scale.
Yousaf also noted that the Evacuee Trust Property Board maintains the sacred Sikh and Hindu sites and provides free facilities for pilgrims for major religious events, as well as efforts to slow down hate speeches and coordinate with the provincial and federal authorities.
Thanking the president for his support, the minister said that his leaders had played a key role in the progress of the rights and well-being of the minority communities of Pakistan.
