KARACHI: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated on Thursday that the government is actively working to transform Pakistan from a nuclear power into an economic powerhouse, aiming to restore its global standing.

Addressing a press conference, Dar outlined the government's efforts to stabilize the economy and bolster Pakistan's diplomatic presence worldwide, with a recent highlight being the country's commencement of a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2025-2026. Dar emphasized the significance of high-level exchanges and Pakistan's increased participation in international events, which has successfully dispelled the notion of Pakistan being isolated. He noted that during the government's first ten months, it had worked diligently to improve Pakistan's diplomatic influence, contributing to the country's active engagement in global forums. The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges the government inherited, including a policy rate of around 25%, slow GDP growth, and soaring inflation.

However, he highlighted the positive impact of the government's economic policies, which have brought the policy rate down to 13%, inflation below 5%, and have seen increases in remittances, foreign exchange reserves, and exports. Ishaq Dar revealed that following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's diplomatic efforts, including successful engagements with the leadership of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan, Pakistan is expected to receive up to $29 billion in investment. He pointed out that Pakistan's participation in international forums such as the Nuclear Energy Summit, World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, the OIC summit in Gambia, and various bilateral meetings have allowed Pakistan to effectively raise critical issues, including Kashmir and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.Dar praised Pakistan's consistent efforts at international platforms, especially within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where the country successfully advocated for the appointment of an OIC envoy on Islamophobia. He also highlighted Pakistan's strong stance on the implementation of UN resolutions concerning Palestine and its condemnation of Israel's actions against Palestinians. Additionally, Pakistan has hosted Palestinian medical students and sent relief aid to Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon.

The Deputy Prime Minister also touched on Pakistan's participation in the D-8 summit and the appointment of Ambassador Sohail Ahmed as Secretary General. He outlined Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visits to China and Kazakhstan, as well as the UN General Assembly, where Pakistan continued to emphasize the Kashmir and Gaza issues, engaging with global leaders. Dar also spoke about the upcoming UK monitoring team's visit to Pakistan, which could lead to the resumption of PIA flights to the UK, following the lifting of the EU's ban on Pakistan's national airline. Pakistan's successful hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit was also acknowledged, and Dar mentioned the upcoming event by the World Muslim League on girls' education, set to take place at the Jinnah Convention Center, with 50 delegates from OIC countries, including 30 ministers, in attendance. Looking ahead, Dar discussed his planned visits to Malaysia and Bangladesh in February 2025 and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to using its term as a UNSC member to expand diplomatic outreach and contribute to conflict resolution while upholding the principles of the UN Charter. In response to a question about the resurgence of terrorism, Dar attributed it to the previous government's policy of opening the Afghan border and releasing hardened criminals. He reiterated the government's desire for good trade relations with Afghanistan, emphasizing the potential for regional connectivity with other neighboring countries like Uzbekistan. Regarding trade relations with India, Dar called on India to create an environment conducive to improving bilateral ties, stating, "It takes two to tango."

He also addressed a question about a recent Washington Post story on Indian involvement in killing foreign nationals, reaffirming Pakistan's concerns about Indian involvement in extraterritorial killings. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in a separate statement, reiterated Pakistan's commitment to peaceful relations with Afghanistan while emphasizing the country's strong capabilities to defend against both internal and external threats. She also clarified that Pakistan's ports, including Gwadar, are solely intended for trade and development, with no plans to offer military bases to foreign governments.