Islamabad - A meeting of the federal cabinet was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s Office.
As the prime minister entered the cabinet hall, the entire room echoed with applause from cabinet members.
The prime minister thanked all members of the cabinet for their support and cooperation.
During the meeting, the prime minister briefed the cabinet on Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Gulf and facilitating a ceasefire. He shared details of the ongoing efforts undertaken by Pakistan to promote dialogue and stability in the region.
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The federal cabinet paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir for their efforts in advancing ceasefire initiatives and working toward peace in the region. The prime minister and the cabinet appealed to the nation to offer prayers of gratitude to Allah on Friday for the positive outcomes of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
They also urged people to pray for the ceasefire to transform into lasting peace, and for the continued progress and prosperity of Pakistan. Cabinet members described Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement on the international stage as historic, noting that the country’s sincere efforts had been widely appreciated around the world.
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They reaffirmed their commitment to working diligently for Pakistan’s economic growth and national development.
According to cabinet members, Pakistan’s sincere diplomacy has helped move the region closer to sustainable peace.
They also remarked that at a time of intense tensions and widespread pessimism, the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir played a crucial role in persuading the concerned parties toward a ceasefire — an achievement that has brought pride to the entire nation on the global stage.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday termed the temporary ceasefire in the region a “historic moment” and expressed hope that the upcoming Islamabad negotiations would permanently extinguish the flames of war.
Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad, the prime minister said the diplomatic success achieved by Pakistan was the result of unity and tireless efforts by the country’s political and military leadership.
He thanked the Iranian and American leadership for positively responding to Pakistan’s request for a ceasefire and supporting efforts for peace.
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The prime minister said Pakistan had been blessed with a major diplomatic success, adding that internal and external conspiracies aimed at pitting Muslim nations against each other had been thwarted.
“Today’s Pakistan is a transformed Pakistan, and the entire world is acknowledging its role,” he said.
He noted that the conflict had been raging for more than a month and its flames threatened not only the region but potentially the entire world.
“Now the flames of war have been extinguished for two weeks, and God willing they will be extinguished permanently,” he said.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the political and military leadership remained united on a single point of partnership, sincerity and goodwill to reduce tensions and promote peace.
He added that attempts were made during the conflict to incite divisions among Muslims by raising sectarian issues, but such conspiracies had failed.
He said Pakistan had earned a rare level of respect and recognition globally. “From Tokyo to London and from Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur, Pakistan is being discussed in media and public circles,” he remarked.
The prime minister particularly appreciated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his team for their tireless diplomatic efforts over the past month.
He also praised Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for maintaining contacts with both the Iranian and American leadership during the crisis.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump for agreeing to the two-week ceasefire. He also expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Türkiye, Indonesia, Egypt, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates and China for supporting Pakistan’s peace efforts.
The prime minister said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing regret over attacks on petrochemical facilities in Jubail and assuring him that Pakistan’s leadership, government and people stood firmly with Saudi Arabia.
Highlighting civil-military coordination during the crisis, the prime minister said the level of cooperation between political and military leadership was unprecedented in his four decades of political career.
He paid tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling him the hero of the May 2025 war and praising his continued support alongside the political leadership.
He noted that while the ceasefire was a positive first step, the ultimate goal remained lasting peace, stability and prosperity.
He also announced that American and Iranian delegations would arrive in Pakistan in two days at his invitation to hold negotiations aimed at consolidating peace.
The prime minister said crises often present opportunities, noting that despite severe regional pressures Pakistan had managed to control inflation and maintain stability in the supply of petroleum products.
He said the government had increased fuel prices by Rs55 per litre in the first week of the crisis but later absorbed Rs129 billion in subsidies to ease the burden on citizens.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also thanked President Asif Ali Zardari for guidance during the crisis and expressed deep gratitude to his political leader Nawaz Sharif for his continued support and advice.
He further appreciated the cooperation of federal ministers, the chief ministers of all four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, advisers, special assistants, coalition partners and senior government officials.
The prime minister concluded by saying that the achievement belonged to the entire nation — including workers, farmers, shopkeepers, labourers, government officials, widows and orphans — adding that “today’s Pakistan is a changed Pakistan.”