LAHORE: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan is increasingly being recognised on the global stage as a “peacemaker” and an emerging “middle power,” citing its diplomatic engagement during recent tensions involving the United States and Iran.
Speaking to the media in Lahore on Thursday, Dar said Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue and encourage restraint had enhanced the country’s international standing. According to him, the nation, once described as diplomatically isolated, is now earning recognition for its constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.
“Pakistan is now being recognised across the world as a peacemaker,” Dar said, adding that countries with limited previous engagement with Pakistan are now taking greater notice of its diplomatic initiatives. He also described Pakistan as a “middle power” and a “net security provider” with an increasingly active international role.
The foreign minister credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and the Foreign Office for sustained diplomatic efforts, noting that much of the engagement took place behind the scenes. He said Pakistan acted as an impartial facilitator, explaining that mediators must remain neutral rather than become parties to a dispute.
Discussing the regional situation, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of attacks on Iran and said Islamabad consistently called for restraint and dialogue to avoid further escalation. He revealed that he personally held more than 150 contacts with foreign counterparts while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remained in regular communication with world leaders during the diplomatic efforts.
Turning to the economy, Dar said Pakistan’s growing diplomatic profile should now be matched by economic progress. He stated that the government’s objective is to transform the country into an economic power, while highlighting what he described as strong macroeconomic performance during the 2013–2017 period.
Dar claimed that Pakistan had once ranked among the world’s top 24 economies before slipping in subsequent years, adding that the current administration is working to reverse that trend. He maintained that the government inherited difficult economic conditions but that key indicators are now improving and the country is moving towards growth, development and public welfare.
“The economy we inherited was damaged, and rebuilding takes time,” he said. “The setbacks of the past few years required sustained corrective measures, but the situation is now moving in a positive direction.”
During his visit, Dar also congratulated devotees on the 983rd Ghusl Mubarak of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) and praised the ongoing expansion of the Data Darbar complex in Lahore.
