The 34th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) will begin here today (Tuesday) with the theme “Peace, Progress and Harmony”. Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri will chair the three-day conference. According to a Foreign Office (FO) statement, delegations from 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) are expected to participate in the meetings being held at the Jinnah Convention Centre. The statement said that extensive arrangements had been made in Islamabad for the reception, accommodation and transportation of more than 600 delegates from member states, observer states and other subsidiary and specialised organs of the forum.
The statement said: “Pakistan assumes the chairmanship of the ICFM at a critical juncture for the Ummah. The foreign ministers are expected to consider and adopt resolutions on the whole range of political, economic, social and cultural matters confronting the Muslim world.” This would be the first time the ICFM would hold an interactive ministerial brainstorming session on the opening day with the theme “Countering Discrimination and Intolerance against Muslims and Defamation of Islam”.