ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has thanked Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia and Egypt for supporting Pakistan’s stance on the Palestine issue at various international forums, state-run media reported on Sunday, crediting PM Shehbaz Sharif with “effectively” raising the issue at global platforms last week. 

Sharif led the Pakistan delegation at the United Nations last week, during which he addressed the UN General Assembly. The Pakistani prime minister called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, describing Israel’s actions in the Middle East as “rogue behavior” and called for granting Palestinians access to food and lifesaving medicines in Gaza. The Pakistani prime minister was also part of a multilateral meeting of Muslim leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkiye, Indonesia and others with US President Donald Trump at the UNGA’s sidelines. The leaders discussed Israel’s war on Gaza, which has cost over 66,000 Palestinians their lives, and called for a cessation of hostilities. 

Speaking to reporters in London, Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has effectively raised the issues of the disputed Kashmir and Palestine territories at international forums.
“He thanked Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Indonesia for supporting Pakistan’s stance on Palestine,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 
Dar also spoke about Pakistan’s economy, saying it is “on the path to recovery” marked by growing international confidence and a surge in “fresh investments.”
Earlier this month, American firm US Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in the critical minerals sector. As per the deal, the US firm would invest $500 million in Pakistan’s critical minerals sector. 
Dar said the investment deal with USSM is “clear evidence” of Pakistan’s renewed economic engagement, adding that the country was heading toward genuine economic improvement and poverty alleviation. 
“He said the country is now moving toward genuine economic improvement and poverty alleviation,” the state broadcaster said
Pakistan has been suffering from a prolonged economic crisis that brought the country to the brink of a sovereign default in 2023 before a last-gasp bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helped avert it. Since then, Pakistan has undertaken painful financial reforms mandated by the IMF to reform its economy. 
Pakistan also formed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in June 2023 to fast-track decisions related to international investment in its priority sectors of minerals, livestock, agriculture, tourism, IT and others.