Golden Jubilee Celebrations of OIC (1969-2019) December 30, 2019 (2019-8)

 

1. OIC is a 57-member body (along with five observer states). As an intergovernmental Organization, it is second only to UN in size. Its combined population is over 1.7 billion with GDP of US$19.4 trillion (8.2% of world GDP). Founded in 1969, this is the 50th year of OIC's establishment. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

2. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent Secretariat in Jeddah headed by the Organization's Secretary General. Dr. Yousef Ahmed Al-Othaimeen is the 11th Secretary General who assumed the office in November 2016.

3. The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. The Charter laid down the objectives and principles of the Organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. Over the last 40 years, the membership has grown from its founding members of 30 to 57 states. The Charter was amended to keep pace with the developments that have unraveled across the world. The present Charter or the OIC was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 to become the pillar of the OIC future Islamic action in line with the requirements of the 21st century.

4. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.7 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental Organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the Organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations.

5. OIC has a dedicated contact group on Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Niger and OIC Secretary General are its members. Its meetings are held from time to time on our request.

6. Pakistan hosts two important OIC outfits. OIC's Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) is based in Islamabad while the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture(ICCIA) is located in Karachi, Pakistan is also member of governing boards of: (1) Islamic Centre for Development and Trade (ICDT) (Casablanca); (ii) Islamic University of Technology (IUT) (Dhaka); (iii) Research Centre for Islamic History, Art & Culture (IRCICA) (Istanbul); and (iv) Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf (Jeddah).

7. In the 14th Islamic Summit, Pakistan was elected as Vice Chair of the bureau on behalf of the Asian Group.

Major OIC Events hosted by Pakistan

8. Over the past 50 years, Pakistan has hosted a number of key OIC meetings/Summits. These include:

a. 2^nd Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, Lahore (22-24 February 1974)

b. 1^st Extraordinary Islamic Summit, Islamabad (23-24 March 1997)

c. Four Council of Foreign Ministers Sessions (1970, 1980, 1993 & 2007)

d. Two extraordinary Council of Foreign Ministers Sessions (1980, 1994)

9. We are part of nine OIC contact groups (on Jammu & Kashmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yemen, Palestine, Muslims in Europe, Armenian aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan, Somalia, Friends of Mediation and Peace and Dialogue).

On the eve of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of OIC (1969-2019), the Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 50/-denomination and Sovunier Sheet of Rs. 250/- denomination are being issued by Pakistan Post on December 30, 2019.