ISLAMABAD: The Charter of OIC Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan was signed in Islamabad on Monday to provide assistance to the war-ravaged country.
OIC Secretary General Hissien Brahim Taha and President Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser signed the agreement witnessed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and diplomats.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Qureshi said the situation in Afghanistan warrants urgent action and the OIC Member States, the Islamic Financial Institutions, donors and other international partners should make donations to the Trust Fund.
The foreign minister said the humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people would constitute an important facet of Pakistan’s chairing the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. He felicitated President IDB and his team for launching the Trust Fund within the stipulated timeframe of three months.
He also acknowledged the efforts being made by the OIC Secretary-General and his Special Envoy for Afghanistan for galvanizing international humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people.
Addressing the ceremony, the OIC Secretary-General said the Trust aims to support the Afghan people. He urged international and regional donors, groups and individuals to support the Fund.
President Islamic Development Bank said the Fund will focus on a comprehensive approach for economic self-reliance and stability of the Afghan people by revamping agriculture sector, promoting Small and Medium Enterprise and creating inclusive environment for women and youth.
The establishment of the Fund was one of the key outcomes of the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Islamabad on 19 December last year.
It is worth mentioning that in addition to its continued, multi-faceted economic and developmental assistance, Pakistan has already announced an assistance package of five billion rupees for Afghanistan.
