Pakistan pushing for de-escalation as Middle East war hits economy, says PM Shehbaz

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan had made extensive efforts to help reduce tensions in the Middle East and that those efforts were continuing to seek a ceasefire in the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Speaking at a special high-level meeting, the prime minister said the ongoing war was having a significant impact on Pakistan and creating economic difficulties for the country. He said the government was working to lower tensions and support peace efforts.

According to the details shared in the meeting, the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has continued for more than a month after beginning on February 28, deepening instability across the Middle East.

The prime minister said that shortly after the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran, Tehran shut the Strait of Hormuz, an important maritime route, and carried out retaliatory attacks on Israel and on US bases in the region.

He said Pakistan had been playing an intermediary role between Washington and Tehran and had intensified diplomatic contacts aimed at helping bring the war to an end.

As part of those efforts, Pakistan hosted senior regional ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, and conveyed messages between the United States and Iran.

Earlier this week, Pakistan and China also jointly called on the US, Israel and Iran to halt the strikes and begin

"peace talks as soon as possible"

Strait of Hormuz vessels

During his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz said two Pakistani vessels had been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz but were able to cross safely through the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

He said the deputy prime minister had been working continuously to help ease tensions in the region.

“We have made every effort to cool down the flames of war in the region,” he said.

Economic and administrative measures

The prime minister said chief ministers had assured their cooperation in dealing with wartime challenges. He added that the federal government had cut the Public Sector Development Programme by Rs100 billion within three weeks.

He also said parliamentarians had taken steps to ensure fuel conservation.

Listing the government’s immediate priorities, the prime minister said protecting the public, safeguarding the agriculture sector and ensuring the movement of goods remained central concerns.

“Controlling inflation is also among our top priorities,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said the federation and the provinces needed to work in coordination and pool their resources to respond to the difficult situation.