THE great leader of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had once described the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) as an organisation which has the attitude of exclaiming on every event that impact the Islamic countries with expression of the words 'Oh I See', as if nothing had happened, may that be the events which were as important as follows

1. The death and destruction of the Palestinian people;

2. The death and destruction of the Kashmiri people;

3. The war between Iraq and Iran;

4. The invasion of the US in Afghanistan;

5. The invasion of the US in Iraq;

6. The invasion of Israel in Lebanon;

7. The Sudan crisis;

8. The isolation of Libya;

9. The sanctions against Iran;

10. The plight of Muslims in the former Soviet states;

11. The plight of the Muslims in the US and its allied countries, where every one of them is under surveillance;

12. Lebanon crises;

13. Bar on Islamic countries' investment in the western world at the behest of the Jew lobby, etc.

The entire Islamic bloc is under threat from one or the other quarter, in all most all the cases there are some major Islamic countries which are siding with those who are perpetrating atrocities on the brethren in religion, but there is no united voice to stand against such crimes.

The Islamic countries have the most talented of manpower, with nuclear technology and technology which can surpass many developed countries.

God has gifted them with natural resources that drive the wheels of industry and commerce of the world, yet the Ummah has the poorest of poor living amongst them.

There is famine and frustration, there is death and destruction, there is filth and favour, there is guilt and gloom, yet no one is bothered, and no one seems to take the lead to voice concern, all to please one superpower.

The Islamic countries should now put their heads together for an Islamic currency, or a currency which is kept as reserve as the falling dollar and fault in the US economy has a direct impact on countries pegged to dollar, there is inflation, and negative growth in almost all countries linked to dollar.

Oil wealth has given the Islamic countries a tremendous resource to become a power. The oil-rich countries should, as a first step, form an oil market/exchange in Dubai or any other country with rates announced and traded in a unanimous Islamic currency, to do away with the NY/London oil exchange, the rates should open from an Islamic oil exchange.

The single-most cause of frustration today in the Islamic countries is the backing of the US and its allies of Israel. A counter-political force as such should be developed to diplomatically counter the wealth and the resources Israel/Jews use to blackmail the US and the West for its ulterior motives.

Yes, we have seen that the Dubai Port was barred from investing in the NY Port, by a powerful Jew lobby. Yes, we know that the Muslims are now termed terrorist and rogue elements. Yes, we know that Al Qaeda and such other outfits may have tarnished the image of the real Muslim.

Yet, we must invest in the infrastructure and industry and invest in the world where basic resources are required to foster an industrial and agriculture bloc which can surpass the best of best. With concerted and concrete efforts the Islamic countries may one day become an Islamic nation. At least we should begin the process, instead of exclaiming 'Oh I See'.

The Dakar Resolution should be a workable document touching the hearts of the Ummah.

DAWOODI MORKAS

Member, Islamabad Stock Exchange (G) Ltd

Karachi