JEDDAH, Feb 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday emphasized the need for restructuring the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to make it a vibrant organization, which can face the challenges confronted by the Ummah.

Speaking at a press conference at the OIC headquarters after a meeting its Secretary General Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the prime minister said the concept of enlightened moderation was getting support within the organization. He emphasized the need to make the concept more effective to face the negative propaganda by the Western media.

Mr Aziz said that there has been misunderstanding about Islam in the world after 9/11. He said the OIC had to play an effective role to project Islam as a religion of peace, moderation and harmony.

He said the OIC members had a lot of hope from the new secretary-general and assured him full support from Pakistan in re-organization and restructuring of the organization.

The prime minister said he had exchanged views with OIC Chairman Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on making the organization an effective representative of the Ummah. He said there was a need to project inter-faith harmony to remove the misperception of Islam in the world.

He said the concept of enlightened moderation would be discussed in the next meeting of Commission of Eminent Persons being held in Pakistan in a few weeks. Earlier, the OIC secretary-general said Mr Aziz was the first prime minister to visit the headquarters after he assumed the charge.

He said the OIC would be made more effective with the help of Pakistan and other member countries. He also hosted a luncheon in honour of the prime minister and his entourage. -APP