ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has stressed the need for greater engagements between Pakistan and Egypt at all levels, including an exchange of students and religious leaders, for the strengthening of mutual cooperation and exchange of knowledge and expertise.
He expressed these views while receiving Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam here at the PM Office on Thursday.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Muhammad Aminul Hasnat Shah and Ambassador of Egypt Ahmed Mohammad Fadel Yacouba were also present during the meeting.
While welcoming the Grand Mufti of Egypt to Pakistan, PM Abbasi said that his visit would provide momentum to the efforts aimed at further strengthening of Pakistan-Egypt bilateral relations and expanding mutual cooperation. He added that Pakistan and Egypt faced similar challenges including the issue of terrorism.
The prime minister also said that the visit of the Grand Mufti and his endorsement of a fatwa against terrorism would further complement efforts to fight a war against terrorism.
He also lauded the intellectual and educational contributions of Al-Azhar University, stating that “it has been a voice of moderation in the Islamic World”.
Egypt’s Grand Mufti Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam thanked the prime minister for a warm welcome and appreciated the government for ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’ initiative and holding of an international conference on the promotion of religious tolerance, which he said would send a strong message regarding Pakistan’s sincere efforts to fight the menace of terrorism.
PM Abbasi also said that in recognition of his meritorious services for the cause of Islam, Pakistan’s government would confer Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam Award on the Grand Mufti Dr Shawki Ibrahim.