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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has received an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to join the&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://Islamabad%20says:%20Prime%20Minister%20Shehbaz%20Sharif%20has%20received%20a%20US%20invitation%20to%20join%20President%20Donald%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20Gaza%20peace%20board,%20reaffirming%20Pakistan%E2%80%99s%20commitment%20to%20UN-backed%20efforts%20for%20lasting%20peace%20and%20a%20Palestinian%20state%20in%20the%20region." target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Board of Peace</a>&nbsp;on Gaza, the Foreign Office said on Sunday.&nbsp;The disclosure was made in response to media queries by Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Prime Minister of Pakistan has received the invitation from the President of the United States to join the Board of Peace on Gaza,&rdquo; Andrabi said in an official statement.&nbsp;He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s position on the Gaza conflict and the wider Palestinian issue, stressing continued diplomatic engagement. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 876px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2012837007634939909&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F3570%2F&sessionId=27ff72f18706e88111d387e3fd7674b23b7ddf9d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,&rdquo; the spokesperson said.&nbsp;The Foreign Office did not elaborate on the scope of the proposed board or whether Pakistan has formally accepted the invitation.&nbsp;US outlines Gaza governance frameworkThe invitation follows an announcement from the White House regarding what it described as the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/gaza-governance-committee-begins-work" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">next phase </a>of President Trump&rsquo;s peace initiative for Gaza.&nbsp;In a statement issued this week, the White House said President Trump had &ldquo;congratulated the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG),&rdquo; a technocratic Palestinian body intended to oversee governance in the war-affected territory.&nbsp;According to the statement, the NCAG will be led by Dr Ali Sha&rsquo;ath, described as a technocratic Palestinian leader.&nbsp;The White House said the proposed framework would include a main board chaired by President Trump, a Palestinian committee of technocrats tasked with administering Gaza, and a separate executive board intended to play an advisory role.&nbsp;The committee was described as a central component of what the White House termed &ldquo;phase two of Trump&rsquo;s 20-point peace plan,&rdquo; aimed at &ldquo;lasting peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity in the region.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/former-palestinian-deputy-minister-to-lead-gaza-governance-body-mediators" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ali Sha&rsquo;ath</a> will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;An initial list of appointees was released, with the White House indicating that additional names would be announced in the coming weeks.&nbsp;OIC endorses second phaseSeparately, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed what it called the start of the second phase of the peace initiative.&nbsp;In an official statement, the OIC said it welcomed the launch of the new phase &ldquo;under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803,&rdquo; as well as the formation of a Palestinian committee to administer Gaza &ldquo;as a temporary transitional body.&rdquo;&nbsp;The OIC General Secretariat reiterated its support for &ldquo;the geographical and institutional unity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the occupied city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem).&rdquo;&nbsp;It also condemned Israel&rsquo;s occupation and called on member states to pressure Israel to &ldquo;stop all its crimes and policies,&rdquo; including &ldquo;annexation, settlement, Judaization of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), forced displacement, and settler terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement concluded by reaffirming the OIC&rsquo;s support for &ldquo;achieving an independent Palestinian state with East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital, based on United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office says Pakistan will remain engaged in international Gaza peace efforts, supporting security and a lasting Palestinian solution in line with United Nations resolutions.

Trump invites Pakistan PM to join Gaza's Board of Peace 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Palestine on Thursday launched the first-ever Rectors&rsquo; Forum to strengthen academic cooperation and rebuild Gaza&rsquo;s war-ravaged higher education sector.&nbsp;Titled &ldquo;Higher Education and Scientific Research in Gaza: The Way Forward,&rdquo; the event was held at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad. It was hosted by COMSTECH, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation&rsquo;s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.&nbsp;Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the initiative marked &ldquo;an important step&rdquo; toward restoring Gaza&rsquo;s education and research capacities.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is a privilege to join this forum, which reflects our shared commitment to education, knowledge, and scientific progress, the foundation for peace and prosperity in the State of Palestine,&rdquo; Siddiqui said. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d31ac423-7184-478f-ba02-016ef1b5810b-pale.jpg" alt=" (COMSTECH/Facebook)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">(COMSTECH/Facebook)</figcaption></figure> The minister praised OIC-COMSTECH&rsquo;s role in advancing science and higher education across the Muslim world and announced support for the committee&rsquo;s plan to offer 5,000 fellowships to Palestinian students, calling it &ldquo;a remarkable initiative&rdquo; that would help shape a new generation of scientists and leaders.&nbsp;He also highlighted COMSTECH&rsquo;s Basic Life Support and Trauma Management Course for Palestinian healthcare workers and its technical and skills training programmes, describing them as &ldquo;tangible steps&rdquo; to strengthen human capacity and save lives in Gaza.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Palestine,&rdquo; Siddiqui said. &ldquo;We offer not just words, but cooperation in research, innovation, and higher education.&rdquo;&nbsp;He expressed hope that the forum would lead to joint research projects, faculty exchanges, scholarships, and lasting academic partnerships between institutions in both countries. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2a157543-7120-4f9d-9a8b-6b71f653532e-pales.jpg" alt=" (COMSTECH/Facebook)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">(COMSTECH/Facebook)</figcaption></figure>In his opening remarks, COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said the forum aimed to create a roadmap for rebuilding Gaza&rsquo;s scientific and educational infrastructure.&nbsp;&ldquo;The systematic destruction of universities, research centres, and schools in Gaza has targeted not only buildings, but the intellectual foundations of an entire generation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He added that COMSTECH and its partner institutions would work with Palestinian counterparts to restore academic life, rebuild universities, and revive research and innovation in Gaza.&nbsp;A seven-member Palestinian delegation comprising university presidents, rectors, and senior academic officials is in Pakistan for a week-long visit facilitated by COMSTECH. The group will hold meetings at leading universities in Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Lahore to explore future collaborations.&nbsp;The event was attended by ambassadors, vice chancellors, senior academics, and officials from both countries.

Pakistan and Palestine held the first-ever Rectors’ Forum on Thursday to boost academic cooperation and rebuild higher education links between institutions in both countries. (COMSTECH/Facebook)

Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui says the new Pakistan–Palestine Rectors’ Forum marks a vital step to rebuild Gaza’s higher education, as OIC-COMSTECH pledges 5,000 fellowships and joint research initiatives to restore academic life in Gaza.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Palestine"

Trump invites Pakistan PM to join Gaza's Board of Peace

Pakistan, Palestine launch forum to rebuild Gaza’s higher education sector