Pakistan's interests will be at the core of new foreign policy: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: In a maiden speech moments after taking oath of his office, newly-appointed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan’s interests will be the utmost priority while setting foreign policy in the right direction.

Speaking at the Foreign Office, he emphasized the need for revisiting, reforming and ‘streamlining’ the country’s foreign policy. Pakistan’s interests will be at the core of the new foreign policy, he asserted.

Qureshi said if the foreign policy will be weak the country’s enemy will take advantage of it. Some powers were trying to push the country into isolation, he added.

The minister said there was no regular foreign minister for over four years which worked to the advantage of such powers.

He expressed his desire to consult and learn from the experiences of his predecessors, including Khawaja Asif and Hina Rabbani Khar and develop a consensus over the country’s foreign affairs.

Qureshi said he would move ahead as per aspirations of the people of the country.

He said Imran Khan-led government would pursue a bi-partisan approach to foreign affairs and take the opposition on board in addressing these challenges.

He said the foreign policy would be reviewed and where necessary its direction would be corrected.

The minister said the Government wants to promote socio-economic causes of the country and improve quality of life of the people through economic diplomacy and international engagement.