ISLAMABAD: The removal of Pakistan from Grey List of Financial Action Task Force, the establishment of Loss and Damage Fund at COP27, and enhanced frequency of high-level exchanges are among the major outcomes of Pakistan’s active multilateral diplomacy throughout 2022.
During the outgoing year, Pakistan continued to pursue an active multilateral diplomacy both in individual capacity and as member of international groupings, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in her weekly press briefing on Thursday.
“We are encouraged with the results of our diplomatic efforts in multilateral settings, the most important of which was Pakistan’s success in coming out of the FATF Grey List in October 2022. Another important achievement was the establishment of Fund for Loss and Damage at COP27 for developing countries,” the spokesperson told media while giving a roundup of the major diplomatic during the year.
She said 2022 was an active year for Pakistan’s diplomacy as the country followed a policy of enhanced engagements with its close partners and friends. The diplomatic efforts were aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s international profile and revitalizing its external relations while protecting national interests.
Throughout the year, there was enhanced frequency of high-level exchanges with Pakistan’s friends and partners, including increased in-person meetings and interactions as the world moved out of the COVID-related restrictions, she remarked.
The spokesperson mentioned that during the year, former prime minister visited China and Russia while the former foreign minister also undertook visits to Romania and Spain.
Moreover, she added, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited countries in Asia and Europe, and to the United States.
High-level visits exchanged with Afghanistan, Austria, China, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, Tajikistan, Togo, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Uzbekistan helped develop important understandings with those countries, she added.
She also apprised the media of the visits of United Nations Secretary-General, Secretary General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Secretary General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Pakistan which contributed to enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and those organizations.
