Islamabad: Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has described the peace agreement between Iran and the United States, scheduled to be signed on Friday, as a major diplomatic achievement for Pakistan. Speaking in the National Assembly today, he said that the country's leadership has, through its vision, wisdom, and diplomatic efforts, enhanced Pakistan's prestige and standing on the international stage. He said the recognition and respect earned by Pakistan through these efforts are unparalleled, describing it as one of the most significant achievements in the nation's 78-year history.
According to Radio Pakistan, Asif emphasized that the struggle waged by Pakistan on the diplomatic front was aimed at promoting peace. He recalled that Pakistan had also secured victory in a war fought on the military front almost a year ago. He expressed confidence that Pakistan would also achieve success on the economic front following its successes on the military and diplomatic fronts. The Defense Minister thanked the United States for ultimately taking a major step toward peace and for recognizing the injustices faced by Iran and indicating in the agreement to address them. He also congratulated Iranian leadership and people for demonstrating unity in the highly sensitive time.
At the outset, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also congratulated the entire Pakistani nation on the country's diplomatic achievement in helping mediate peace between Iran and the United States. In this regard, he was appreciative of the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, National Security Adviser Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, and the entire team of the foreign office. The Iranian Ambassador also witnessed the proceedings of the house.
The house is now continuing discussion on the budget for the next financial year. Participating in the discussion, Sardar Latif Khosa described the budget as anti-people, saying it carries no relief for the people. Ghulam Ali Talpur said that the agriculture sector should be subsidized with the withdrawal of sales tax and duties on agri inputs. Noor Alam Khan welcomed recent diplomatic engagements and appreciated Pakistan's leadership role in promoting peace and regional stability.
Hafeez-ud-Din said high energy costs, circular debt, and policy inconsistencies continue to pose challenges to industrial growth, urging comprehensive reforms to ensure stability and investor confidence. Shahram Khan called for stronger implementation of policies to translate economic claims into tangible relief for citizens. Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol noted that debt servicing and inflation continue to limit development spending and urged policymakers to prioritize relief for the common man through improved financial management.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Pakistan's economy remains the country's biggest challenge. Referring to the law and order situation, he called for an in-camera briefing of Parliament on the security situation, including developments in Afghanistan, Iran, and the wider region. He said lawmakers should be fully apprised of the ground realities. On foreign policy, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Pakistan's role in defusing tensions between Iran and the United States has been widely appreciated. He also emphasized the need for engagement with Afghanistan, saying peace and stability in the neighboring country are vital for Pakistan.
The JUI-F Chief said issues in Azad Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved through dialogue. He stressed the need to revive the Charter of Democracy and expressed openness to engage in dialogue with opposition parties. PML-N Anjum Aqeel Khan said Pakistan's diplomatic standing has improved significantly, with the country now maintaining stronger engagement with major global powers.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said Balochistan has been neglected in the national development budget. Pullain Baloch said Balochistan should be given due representation in decision-making processes. He said educated youth from the province should be accorded priority in employment opportunities under development projects being implemented in Balochistan.
Others, who spoke on the occasion, include Ramesh Lal, Changaze Ahmad Khan Kakar, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Mobeen Arif, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Syed Abrar Ali Shah, Aliya Kamran, Arbab Amir Ayub, Ayesha Nazir, Saira Afzal Tarar, Khurshed Ahmed Junejo, Sohail Sultan, Zulfiqar Sattar Bachani, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, Arshad Sahi, Adil Khan Bazai, Syeda Amnah Batool, Mehboob Shah, Shahid Usman, Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Gulnaz Shahzadi, and Neelam Kumari. The House will now meet tomorrow at eleven in the morning.