Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday called upon the government to play mediatory role in ending the current standoff between Qatar and Gulf states.
ICCI President Khalid Iqbal Malik said that the whole Muslim Umma was disturbed over the brewing tensions in the Gulf region involving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
He said Pakistan has good relations with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf countries and it should play a positive role to end the current standoff developing in the region.
He said millions of Pakistanis were working in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other Gulf countries; drop in oil prices is causing macroeconomic instability.
He was afraid that if the current tensions continued, it would further weaken the economies of these countries and more people would lose jobs in the Gulf market.
He said Pakistan should request the Gulf countries to show restraint and resolve their difference through negotiations.
He stressed it was high time that government of Pakistan take concrete steps towards forging unity amongst the Muslim Ummah.
He was hopeful that sincere efforts by Pakistan and other Muslim countries would help in resolving the diplomatic crisis engulfing the Middle East in a peaceful manner and without causing much damage to their economies.
