Dar says efforts on to boost trade ties with Bangladesh, calls it ‘lost brother’

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said the government was making all-out efforts to accomplish Pakistan’s journey from nuclear to economic power and regain its lost stature in the world.

The deputy prime minister, addressing a news conference, gave a roundup of the government’s efforts to bring economic stability and enhance Pakistan’s diplomatic footprints through bilateral and multilateral engagements with the latest one being the beginning of the country’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for years 2025-26.

Highlighting the high-level exchanges, and Pakistan’s participation in and hosting of international events, he said the incumbent government had strived to enhance Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint during its first 10 months, which led to burying the impression of an “isolated Pakistan”.

The deputy primeminister, who is also the Foreign Minister, said that the PMLN-led coalition government inherited huge challenges including around 25 percent policy rate, slow GDP growth and skyrocketing inflation. However, the government’s prudent economic policies downed the policy rate to 13 percent, inflation below 5 percent while remittances, foreign exchange reserves and exports were on the rise.

Ishaq Dar told the media that following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visits and effective engagements with the leadership of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Azerbaijan, there were indications of around $29 billion investment coming to Pakistan.

He highlighted Pakistan’s participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit, World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, OIC summit in Gambia, visits of Saudi foreign minister, Iran’s president late Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister, and that during all interactions Pakistan effectively raised the issue of Kashmir. Pakistan’s consistent efforts at the OIC summit in Gambia led to the appointment of OIC envoy on Islamophobia.

He said Pakistan was among the very few countries that strongly advocated the implementation of UN resolutions in the Middle East.

He said that besides hosting Middle Eastern medical students, Pakistan also dispatched relief aid to the war-hit ME countries.

The deputy prime minister’s presser also encompassed Pakistan’s participation in the D-8 summit and appointment of Ambassador Sohail Ahmed as its secretary general, PM Shehbaz’ visit to China and Kazakhstan, participation in UN General Assembly session, where he highlighted Kashmir issue besides interacting with dozens of world leaders.

Regarding his multiple interactions with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, he said a UK monitoring team was about to visit Pakistan in January which may follow the resumption of PIA flights to the UK, as the EU had already lifted the ban on the national flag carrier.

He said Pakistan’s hosting of SCO summit was “well-received and well-praised” and informed the media that the World Muslim League would soon hold an event on the girls’ education at the Jinnah Convention Center to 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.

“So, I will visit Malaysia from 03 to 05 February. After my completion of visit to Malaysia, I will also visit Bangladesh on the invitation of Dr. Yunus which I received at Cairo. I think Bangladesh visit is crucial. Bangladesh is our lost brother, and we will work, support and cooperate on the economic and trade front and thing are moving fast on these fronts,” he said. He said as Pakistan had started its two-year term as a non-permanent UNSC member, the country would make efforts to enhance diplomatic outreach and work for dispute resolution and upholding the UN charter.

Responding to a question, Ishaq Dar told the media that Pakistan had eliminated terrorism in 2018 but it resurfaced due to the previous government’s policy of opening the Afghan border and allowing hardcore criminals. “We want good trade ties with Afghanistan as it will pave the way to connectivity with other neighborly states like Uzbekistan,” he said. Regarding trade ties with India, he said, “It takes two to tango”, calling upon India to create an environment to help improve the relations.