Center to ensure uniform guidelines for the month of Ramadan across country- Ijaz Shah

• The Federal Minister for Interior, Brig (R) Ijaz Ahmad Shah met with the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Peer Noor ul Haq Qadri in Islamabad.

• The meeting focused on formulation of a strategy that will ensure that the spirit of this Holy month is kept alive and preventive measures amid pandemic are also fully exercised.

• Religious Scholars, Representatives & all relevant stakeholders from entire country to be taken on board.

The Holy month of Ramadan holds great significance for every Muslim in the world. This year we are facing a global challenge of fighting novel COVID 19, considering this hindrance, the Interior Minister and the Minister for Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony met to devise a practical strategy. The possible options were brought under discussion and the two collectively decided that country's all religious representatives from different segments should be taken on board and a uniform set of guidelines from center should be issued for all provinces and ICT to follow.

"Uniform set of guidelines are primary to the strategy to avoid any conflict" said Ijaz Shah during meeting. The National Emergency to control corona virus spread is likely to impact Ramadan's routine practices like iftar dinners and Taraweeh prayers. Understanding the fact that this month and its religious significance is massive for all Muslims, the two Ministers mutually agreed on taking all necessary stakeholders on board to come up with the best possible solution in this time of crisis.

Primary objective is to come up with a unanimous decision that will let people observe their religious duties and also ensure health and safety of masses.The Federal Ministers decided upon taking Senior Religious Scholars and Representatives on board to decide final strategy. The finalized policy is to be uniform for the entire country, the two agreed.

PM Khan, Prince Salman share same vision on anti-corruption, economic revolution, poverty alleviation.

ISLAMABAD, March 7 – Minister for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi has said that that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman share same vision on anticorruption, economic revolution and poverty alleviation.

The Ambassador said that Crown Prince Mohammad’s visit to Pakistan had been a major success and it would go a long way in further cementing the bilateral relations between the two brotherly Muslim countries.

“I have been living here for quite a while and let me tell you that I love Pakistan from the core of my heart. The well-being of Pakistan is my own well-being,” the Saudi Ambassador added The Minister expressed these views during a meeting with Mr. Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia who called on the Minister here at the Ministry of Interior. The Minister lauded the role played by Saudi Arabia in diffusing tensions between India and Pakistan.

“Entire Pakistani nation is indebted to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his advocacy and support for Pakistan during South Asia’s and India’s visit.

“The arrival of Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Mr Adel Al-Jubeir here today reflects the concerns shared by High Royal Highness King Salman bin Abdel-Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Pakistan is indebted to the Saudi leadership for their commitment and dedication towards the regional peace and stability,” the Minister said.

The minister also appreciated the extension project of Holy Harem Sharif to facilitate the pilgrims. Interior minister added that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s announcement of US$20 billion investment would further strengthen the Pakistan Saudi friendship.

The Saudi Ambassador on the occasion briefed the Interior Minister on the visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Mr Adel Al-Jubeir to Pakistan.

Prime Minister clean and green Islamabad Campaign

ISLAMABAD - Sheharyar Khan Afridi, Minister of State for Interior Wednesday said that the eco-friendly policies of the government are doing wonders for revival of real weather system of Pakistan and the billion tree tsunami, has helped in decreasing the deforestation in Pakistan. The Minister expressed these views while addressing a tree plantation event at NUST University here.

 "We have decided to build on to the milestone achievement of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 'Billion Tree Tsunami” and this year we would plant ten billion trees in across country," the Minister said adding that one lakh saplings should be planted by University students only.

Pakistan calls for enhanced dialogue and cooperation on migration issues

ISTANBUL, 21 February 2019: Addressing the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Budapest Process on migration issues in Istanbul, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Shehryar Afridi stressed the need for enhanced dialogue and cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination.

The Minister underscored that to effectively address migration, law enforcement cooperation needs to be supplemented by efforts to address underlying drivers of irregular migration and opening more avenues for legal migration. He also invited attention to assess the impact of restrictive visa regime and stringent border controls on the entire cycle of migration.

The Minister also called for countering the tendencies of xenophobia, racial profiling and Islamophobia in destination and cautioned against scapegoating migrants for narrow political gains.

Minister Shehryar Afridi said Pakistan is both a country of origin as well as destination for migrants. He added Pakistan continued to host, on an average, more than a million irregular migrants from neighbouring countries and the region for over four decades. He said these migrants have enjoyed social mobility, employment opportunities and access to health and education.  He said that Pakistan has effective migration policies that were implemented through robust legal and administrative frameworks.

On the sidelines of the Conference, Minister Shehryar Afridi held meetings with the Ministers of Interior of Turkey, Greece, Croatia as well as the Minister for Refugees of Afghanistan, and exchanged views on various aspects of migration.