October 25, 2003	Saturday	Sha’aban 28, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Commerce Secretary Kamal Afsar has said that preferential trading arrangement among the OIC-member states would result into uplifting of all the Islamic countries.

According to an official announcement issued on Friday, the secretary said this at the 19th Session of the Committee for Economic & Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held in Istanbul from October 20-23.

Mr. Afsar during his address highlighted that there were ample opportunities available for the enhancement of intra-OIC trade with a view to uplifting of all the Islamic countries.

He also highlighted that OIC countries were closely knitted with each other. He further said that as far as religion was concerned “we must also strive for helping each other with ultimate aim of the uplift of Muslims in the world”.

The main agenda item of the 19th session was to discuss Preferential Trading Arrangement among the OIC-member countries and for that formulation of trade negotiation committee with a mandate for early conclusion of preferential trading.

The session was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Turkey, who was also the chairman of the COMCEC.

The session also discussed the matters related to economic assistance to some Islamic countries.

The session was also attended by Pakistan Ambassador to Turkey, Sher Afgan Khan, Joint Secretary (Foreign Trade) Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Zafar Qadir, and Pakistan’s Consul General at Istanbul, Muhammad Riaz.