ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that the government is making all-out efforts to achieve Pakistan’s path from nuclear to economic power and regain its lost position in the world.
At a press conference, the Deputy Prime Minister summarized the government’s efforts to achieve economic stability and strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint through bilateral and multilateral engagements, the latest of which marks the beginning of the country’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of Pakistan. UN Security Council 2025-26.
Highlighting high-level exchanges and Pakistan’s participation in and hosting international events, he said the incumbent government had tried to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint in the first 10 months, which had led to burying the impression of an “isolated Pakistan”.
The deputy prime minister said the PML-N-led coalition government inherited huge challenges around 25 percent policy rate, slow GDP growth and skyrocketing inflation. However, the government’s prudent economic policy has reduced the base interest rate to 13 percent, inflation below 5 percent, and remittances, foreign exchange reserves, and exports on the rise.
Ishaq Dar told the media that after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visits and effective talks with the leadership of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Azerbaijan, there were indications of around $29 billion investment in Pakistan.
He highlighted Pakistan’s participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit, the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, the OIC Summit in The Gambia, the visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister and that during all the interactions Pakistan had effectively raised the issue of Kashmir and the ongoing Israeli genocide of the Palestinian population . Pakistan’s persistent efforts at the OIC Summit in The Gambia resulted in the appointment of an OIC Envoy on Islamophobia.
He said that Pakistan was one of the few countries that strongly advocated the implementation of UN resolutions on Palestine and International Court of Justice rulings on the matter, besides condemning Israel’s barbarity against innocent people.
He said that apart from hosting Palestinian medical students, Pakistan had also sent relief aid to Gaza, Syria and Lebanon.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s press release also included Pakistan’s participation in the D-8 Summit and the appointment of Ambassador Sohail Ahmed as its Secretary General, Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit to China and Kazakhstan, attendance at the UN General Assembly meeting where he raised the issues of Kashmir and Gaza besides interacting with them. dozens of world leaders.
Regarding his numerous interactions with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, he said a UK monitoring team was set to visit Pakistan in January, which may follow the resumption of PIA flights to the UK as the EU has already lifted the ban on the national flag carrier. .
He said that Pakistan’s hosting of the SCO summit was “well received and praised” and informed the media that the World Muslim League would soon hold an event on girls’ education at the Jinnah Convention Center, which would be attended by 50 delegates from OIC states including 30 ministers.
The Deputy Prime Minister also mentioned his upcoming visit to Malaysia and Bangladesh in February.
He said as Pakistan began its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the country would seek to strengthen its diplomatic outreach and work on dispute resolution and adherence to the UN Charter.
Responding to a question, Ishaq Dar told the media that Pakistan had eradicated terrorism in 2018 but it had re-emerged due to the policy of the previous government to open Afghan borders and release the worst criminals. We want good trade relations with Afghanistan because it will pave the way for connectivity with other neighboring states like Uzbekistan.
On trade relations with India, he said, “It takes two to tango” and urged India to create an environment that will help improve relations.
Later, in response to a question about a Washington Post story on India’s involvement in the killing of foreign nationals, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan had already expressed concerns about India’s involvement in extraterritorial killings, not only in Pakistan but also in other countries.
She said that Pakistan desires good relations with Afghanistan, but at the same time, Pakistani people and security forces are capable enough to defeat any internal or external threat.
When asked further, she clarified that Pakistan’s ports including Gwadar port were meant purely for trade and development and the country had no plan to offer any military bases to any foreign government.
