Karachi (PR): Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI, has expressed the collective concerns of the entire business, industry and trade community of Pakistan on the continuing inhumane siege of Palestine and barbaric attack on a hospital resulting in the martyrdom of upwards of 500 innocent lives and many more are struggling to survive. The hospital was treating and sheltering the wounded; women & children and other extremely vulnerable, he added.
Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh also raised the issue of humanitarian crisis on the occasion of the visit of Honorable Maryam Nawaz Sharif to FPCCI’s regional office; and, Mr. Sohail Alaf, senior member FPCCI, presented a resolution in this regard to strongly denounce the war crimes & atrocities on the unarmed and innocent civilians of Gaza and calling for an end to the war.
Mr. Sohail Altaf added that more than 4000 Palestinian lives have been lost so far and hundreds more lives are being taken every day. Whereas, tens of thousands are seriously injured and more than a million Palestinians have been internally displaced and made homeless. It is prohibited under the Geneva Convention and international law to attack a hospital or a medical facility in any conflict or war under any circumstances – and, if committed, is considered a war crime.
Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh demanded that: (i) there should be an immediate & absolute humanitarian ceasefire to enable provision of aid to reach the victims (ii) United Nations should intervene and lead the international efforts to save and rescue the war affected population of Gaza (iii) OIC should pool their resources to rehabilitate the people and reconstruct the city (iv) international community should prosecute the war crimes to the fullest extent of law.
FPCCI Chief also expressed his fears that – if the war continues unabated – it may engulf the entire world in general and the region in particular. It will cause disruptions in regional and international trade; international oil supplies; disruptions in the international financial system and restricted international travel & movement. It is a gravely bleak scenario and there will be no winner of this war, he added.
Brig Iftikhar Opel, SI (M), Retd.
Secretary General