Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that Pakistan would continue to make efforts for bringing the world’s attention to the difficult economic situation in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan, being a neighbouring country of Afghanistan, is making efforts for providing relief to Afghan brethren on a humanitarian basis,” he said during a meeting with Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Muttaqi, leading a delegation, earlier the day had arrived here to attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday. The interim Afghan FM thanked Qureshi for inviting him to the OIC meeting.

Pakistan has been working from August 15 to bring the international community’s attention towards the economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, said Muttaqi, adding that the OIC's CFM meeting was an effort in this regard.

“Pakistan through the OIC meeting was giving a message to the world to learn from the past mistakes and come forward for Afghan peace,” he said, “An inclusive government and ensuring basic human rights – especially women rights – are in the interest of Afghanistan.”

During his visit to Kabul in October, the foreign minister said that he had announced Rs5 billion worth of aid for the war-torn country as a “goodwill gesture.”

FM Qureshi said: “I am feeling very happy to say that we have made all arrangements for the humanitarian aid in form of 50,000 metric tons of wheat, medicines, and food for Afghanistan.” He added that the country’s team would soon reach Kabul to visit the three hospitals being run by Pakistan.

He further said that Pakistan was ready for hosting the OIC CFM’s 48th meeting next year in March. “Back to back OIC CFM’s hosting shows Pakistan’s seriousness towards prevailing issues being faced by the Muslim Ummah.”

He was of the view that hope for peace after 40 years in Afghanistan was important, adding that such an opportunity should not be wasted. “Afghanistan’s economic collapse bears equal implications for everyone,” FM Qureshi said.

The FM further thanked the OIC for continuous and constant support on the Kashmir issue.