ISLAMABAD, June 18 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday called on the international community to take urgent steps to halt the ongoing Iran-Israel war, terming it a serious threat to regional stability and global peace.
Speaking at a federal cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the escalating conflict, stating that Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s blatant aggression against Iran. He urged the global community to immediately intervene for a ceasefire.
Sharif shared that on the day the conflict began, he contacted Iranian President Masoud Peshkeshian and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to express Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran. “Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region,” he stressed.
Referring to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he lamented that over 50,000 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured in Israeli attacks.
“The market of oppression remains hot in Palestinian territories,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister will represent the country at the upcoming OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Turkey.
Turning to domestic matters, the Prime Minister outlined key aspects of the federal budget. He emphasized that no new taxes have been imposed on agriculture, which remains the government’s top development priority.
He also announced a 10% increase in salaries and tax relief for the salaried class, including a reduction in income tax to 1% for earnings between Rs 600,000 and Rs 1.2 million annually.
Sharif said the Public Sector Development Programme has been allocated Rs 1 trillion, highlighting the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy after a challenging 2023. “With hard work, we steered the country away from bankruptcy,” he said.
Praising Pakistan’s diplomatic performance, he said that the delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari represented the country effectively in both the United States and Europe, successfully projecting Pakistan’s national stance.
He also commended the armed forces for eliminating terrorism with the full support of the Pakistani nation, stating that Pakistan’s military had achieved decisive victories against hostile elements.
