Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grave concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, warning of severe consequences for regional peace, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Wednesday.
The PM urged the international community to take immediate steps to prevent a full-scale conflict as the Middle East is on edge.
Chairing a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said, “The situation in the region has become deeply alarming following Israel's open aggression against Iran. The world must act to stop this war before it spreads.”
He emphasised that Pakistan stands for regional peace and stability and announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will soon visit Türkiye to engage in diplomatic consultations.
Speaking on the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Shehbaz Sharif questioned global silence over Israeli atrocities and said, “When will the world’s conscience wake up as the people of Gaza continue to suffer under Israeli oppression?”
Dar to attend emergency OIC meeting in Istanbul
On Sunday, June 15, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The two leaders exchanged views on the rapidly deteriorating security environment in the region due to Israel's unjustified military actions against Iran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Dar will represent Pakistan at two key upcoming events in Istanbul:
An extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF) ceremony honouring President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Both events are expected to focus heavily on the Middle East crisis, particularly Israeli aggression in Gaza and toward Iran, and strategies for diplomatic de-escalation.
Referring to the fiscal budget, the prime minister appreciated finance minister, his team and chairman FBR for taking the allied parties and other stakeholders onboard in this regard.
He said the government had told IMF against imposing tax on agriculture sector, including levy of taxes on fertilizer and pesticides as this sector was under pressure to which they agreed. The prime minister expressed gratitude to the IMF for accepting their request.
He said that in the current fiscal budget, only one percent tax would be paid by those earning between Rs600,000 to 120,0000 against 5 percent which was imposed last year.
In the recent great victory against India in the armed conflict, he said it was possible due to the professionalism of the armed forces and support of 240 million people of the country.
The prime minister said considering the fight against terrorism, they had increased the fiscal space to meet the requirements of the armed forces with regard to necessary equipments.
He said PSDP volume had been increased to Rs1000 billion in the current fiscal budget and expressed the resolve to achieve the targets.
The incumbent government did not act like those who had broken the promises and took the country to the verge of default, he said, adding that they had pulled back the country from running into financial fiasco and now it was moving forward.
The prime minister also lauded a delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sherry Rehman, minister for climate and others that had effectively presented Pakistan’s viewpoint over Indian unilateral and illegal aggression during their visits to the US and Europe.