MISSIONS Must help community Abroad: Qureshi

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the country’s diplomats abroad to look after the community who he called a big asset for the country. “Please look after the community and provide help to them. That is the main role of our missions. If our people are not happy, then there is no point of having missions. We don’t need officials who can’t support the community in tough times. We don’t need diplomats who don’t give respect to our citizens and care for the community,” he said in the speech.

Qureshi said some diplomats from a GCC country were recalled on due to non-performance, while praising hard-working diplomats performing exceptionally well with limited resources.

He praised overseas Pakistanis who have made a big name in foreign countries. “Many of overseas Pakistanis are representatives in the UK parliament. They didn’t have big connections when they landed in the UK. But through sheer hard work, they have risen through the ranks and have been recognised for their talent and provide good service to their community,” Qureshi told the gathering.

He said countries who have high forex reserves and don’t knock at the door of the IMF often or seek support from friendly countries have respect and other countries listen to them and take their foreign policy seriously.

“I observed that foreign policy objectives cannot be achieved if the country is not stable economically… My priority is economic diplomacy. We should learn from the world and bring reforms and try to improve the economy,” he added.