Islamabad: Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor advocated for expanding the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to encompass other Muslim and Arab countries. He described the SMDA as a landmark achievement and suggested broadening its scope.
Shakoor addressed concerns about the pact being potentially directed against Iran or other nations. He proposed including Iran in the agreement to dispel such apprehensions. He emphasized the urgent need for a robust defence framework for the entire Muslim world, highlighting Pakistan’s capability to provide such protection.
He advocated for the inclusion of Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Yemen, Gulf states, and other Muslim countries in the SMDA or similar self-defence alliances. Shakoor envisioned a political alliance among Muslim nations akin to the European Union and a defence cooperation similar to NATO. He also called for a shared currency and a visa-free system among Muslim countries, modeled after the EU.
He urged resource-rich Gulf nations to open their labor markets to workers from populous Muslim countries like Pakistan to boost economic development. He also suggested strengthening the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to better protect the interests of Muslim countries. Shakoor stressed the need for a unified defence force for the Muslim world to address mounting external threats.
Shakoor emphasized the importance of transforming Pakistan into an economic powerhouse alongside its nuclear capabilities. He called for improvements in education and training to produce a skilled workforce competitive in the global job market. He recommended specialized training with Arabic language proficiency to meet the specific demands of the Gulf region, noting the potential for Pakistani youth to fill the workforce gap in the Gulf’s service sector.
He urged the government to enhance diplomatic, commercial, educational, and cultural ties with all Muslim countries, especially Arab nations, and to prioritize visa liberalization policies for Muslim nations. Shakoor emphasized the vast opportunities presented by the SMDA in the Arab world, urging the government and institutions to capitalize on them.