Spokesman Report
KARACHI :Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) & All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Chairman National Business Group Pakistan (NBG), Chairman FPCCI Policy Advisory Board and Former Provincial Minister of Information Technology, stated that the signing of the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran is a historic development that has brought the ongoing tensions in the Middle East to a peaceful turning point. He said that Pakistan’s key role as a mediator in this agreement is highly commendable and a matter of great pride, as it has not only paved new paths for peace in the region but also provided the global economy an opportunity to escape a major crisis. Mian Zahid Hussain attributed this success to the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that during the recent escalation, the global economy was under severe pressure due to disruptions in global oil supplies and the closure of maritime routes, with oil prices reaching $120 per barrel at one point. He pointed out that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes—had paralyzed global trade, the heaviest toll of which was borne by developing countries like Pakistan, where soaring energy import costs and fuel shortages had slowed down economic momentum. He added that the five-point peace formula presented by Pakistan and the hosting of the Islamabad talks during this crisis are proof that Pakistan is the greatest champion of peace and stability in the region.
Mian Zahid Hussain further added that the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with the visionary policies of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, played a pivotal role in this achievement. He noted that the courageous manner in which the Field Marshal visited Iran despite a precarious security situation, and provided the security and strategic backing required to host the dialogues, gave Pakistan’s diplomacy the necessary strength to compel global powers to take Islamabad’s stance seriously. Mian Zahid Hussain further added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also played their fullest role in this agreement, for which history will remember them. It was the joint vision of the civil and military leadership that provided a secure environment to bring the US and Iranian leaderships to the negotiating table. This agreement, officially named the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” provides a strong foundation for a ceasefire between the parties as well as the restoration of maritime trade. Naming the accord after Islamabad is a testament that the world fully acknowledges Pakistan’s strategy and relentless efforts to prevent war.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that the US-Iran understanding will bring stability to global markets and provide Pakistan with the conducive environment required for its economic recovery. He expressed hope that all nations will not let this opportunity for peace go to waste and will rid the region of conflicts through lasting political solutions. He stressed that the time has now come for Pakistan to translate its diplomatic achievements into economic prosperity and to resolve the challenges facing the industrial sector through internal reforms, so that the national economy can be placed on a sustainable footing. He added that the entire Pakistani nation must unite and demonstrate the same level of vision and unity in its economic policies as it has successfully shown on the diplomatic front during difficult circumstances.
