ISLAMABAD, AUG 24 (DNA)- Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while addressing a press conference on Friday said Pakistan is no longer a darling of the West as it used to be.

He said conversation between US Secretary of State and PM Imran Khan was misquoted by the US State Department. There was no substance in that statement. He said the Foreign Secretary was also present during the call therefore she knew what exactly was discussed between the two dignitaries.

He said world has changed and new alignments have come into force. He said the Foreign office briefed comprehensively the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan during his visit to the Foreign office on Friday.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi further said institutional dialogue and consensus on key issues has acquired huge significance in order to match global challenges.

He said, Pakistan wants peace and regional harmony. Stability in the region is key if we wish to move forward.

Then economic development is also a sine qua non if we want to ameliorate the lot of common people.

Minister Qureshi said center of gravity is shifting eastwards and the world is fast heading towards a multi-polar world, which is a good sign for global peace and stability.

He added, rising Islamophobia is a new phenomena we are faced with. Likewise, anti-immigrants sentiments are also gradually growing.

Indo-Pakistan relations are stalled but we have to move forward and for this we have to find reasonable excuses. He quoted Prime Minister Imran Khan first speech in which he said if India would take one step we will take two.

“It takes two to make a tango, therefore India needs to reciprocate Pakistan goodwill gesture in same fashion.

He also talked about Afghanistan and said Pakistan attaches huge importance to Afghan peace and will do whatever it could to ensure peace in Afghanistan.

Minister Qureshi said the tension between US and Iran is not a good omen for global as well regional peace. Pakistan has historical ties with Iran and wants even stronger relations with Iran.

He told the Iran foreign minister called him and expressed wish to visit Pakistan between August 30 and 31. I warmly welcome Iranian foreign minister.

CPEC he said is an important project and we are trying to make maximum benefit of this project.

Likewise SCO also provides huge opportunities to the member countries and Pakistan will do its best in this regard.

He said Pakistan and China enjoy excellent relations and will grow with the each passing day. He said the Chinese foreign minister for come to Pakistan on September 8 on  a two day visit.“ I am looking forward to receive the Chinese foreign minister”.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi also talked about SAARC and termed it an important forum. He said SAARC however needs to be re-invented.

While talking about Pakistan-US relations Shah Mahmood Qureshi said this is an important bilateral relationship.

He said the PM was also briefed about Pak-US relations and how to bring these relations to normalcy. Afghanistan here has a key role to play.

We need to understand needs of Afghan people and Afghan government. He said the US Secretary of State will visit Pakistan of September 5, in which issues relating to bilateral relations shall be discussed.

He also talked about European Union and stressed to deepen ties with the EU.  He said Pakistan unfortunately could not benefit from GSP Plus status. The PTI govt will make sure to get maximum benefit of the GSP  plus.

Africa he said is also an important region however we have not explored it fully. It provides good opportunities for business and investments.

He called upon the Pakistani Diaspora to send more and more remittances in order to help sagging Pakistan economy.

He said image building of the country is also an important task for us and all out efforts shall be made to improve Pakistan’s image both at home and abroad.

He also requested the Pakistan media to help Pakistan improve Pakistan image.

He said Foreign Office will also strictly adopt austerity measures and he will not stay in the five star hotels during his foreign trips. He said will not travel in the first class.=DNA

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