Dar sees diplomatic gains helping Pakistan rebuild economic standing

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said Pakistan must convert its growing diplomatic influence into economic strength, arguing that the country’s recent role in promoting regional peace has enhanced its international standing and created an opportunity to improve investor confidence.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore after attending the 983rd annual Ghusl ceremony at the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh, Dar said Pakistan was increasingly being recognised as an active diplomatic player and a responsible state on the global stage.

He said the country, which some critics had previously described as diplomatically isolated, was now being acknowledged internationally for helping facilitate dialogue and de-escalation efforts in the region, particularly during recent tensions involving Iran.

According to Dar, Pakistan remained engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and reducing tensions between February 28 and June 25, a role that earned Islamabad appreciation from multiple international stakeholders.

However, he stressed that diplomatic achievements alone were not enough and that Pakistan's next objective should be economic advancement.

“Today, the world knows Pakistan as a peacemaker,” Dar said, adding that the country was increasingly being viewed as a middle power with the capacity to contribute constructively to international affairs.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was focused on steering the economy towards sustained growth and development, arguing that Pakistan should now work towards becoming a major economic force in addition to strengthening its diplomatic profile.

Drawing comparisons with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government's previous tenure, Dar said macroeconomic indicators improved significantly between 2013 and 2017, helping attract foreign investment and earning international recognition for the country's economic performance.

He recalled that Pakistan's economic progress during that period had drawn praise from European partners and coincided with stronger foreign investment inflows.

Dar said those gains were later reversed, noting that Pakistan's position among the world's largest economies declined from 24th to 47th place over the following four years.

Despite that setback, he maintained that the current government was working to restore economic stability and improve Pakistan's global economic ranking through reforms and growth-oriented policies.

The deputy prime minister also described Pakistan as a responsible nuclear power whose diplomatic and strategic capabilities had gained wider international recognition, while urging national focus on economic development as the foundation for long-term prosperity.