ISLAMABAD: A Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) delegation led by its Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the situation across the region. During the meeting, the delegation was given an in-camera briefing on the current situation in Iran, Middle East and Afghanistan.
The delegation was taken into confidence regarding Pakistan’s diplomatic measures and efforts amid the current regional situation. Members of the delegation were informed about the measures taken by Pakistan’s embassies in Iran and Gulf countries to facilitate Pakistani citizens.
Liaqat Baloch, Mian Muhammad Aslam and Asif Luqman Qazi were part of the delegation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that the Pakistani embassies in Gulf countries must remain readily available at all times to assist Pakistani citizens amid the prevailing situation in the region. Chairing a meeting on the evacuation of Pakistanis from Iran and issues related to Pakistanis residing in Gulf countries, the prime minister expressed gratitude to the brotherly country Azerbaijan for assisting in the evacuation of Pakistanis from Iran.
“Pakistani citizens are safely returning home from Iran, and the Pakistani Embassy in Azerbaijan is fully active in facilitating the process,” the prime minister was told. The meeting was also informed that on the prime minister’s instructions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was continuously monitoring the entire situation. A briefing was also given on the measures taken by the Pakistani embassies to facilitate Pakistani citizens residing in Gulf countries.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his message on X said, “I express my deep concern over the recent attack targeting our brotherly country Türkiye. I join the people of Pakistan in expressing complete solidarity with our brave Turkish brothers and sisters, at this challenging time. Such reprehensible actions risk further escalation and undermine regional peace and stability. We call for maximum restraint and emphasise the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to uphold respect for sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the region.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Also Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia spoke on telephone and expressed serious concern over the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, following Israel’s attacks against Iran and the subsequent attacks against brotherly Gulf countries.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to enhance coordination with provincial governments on the national agriculture roadmap and take concrete steps to strengthen Pakistan’s food security and agricultural productivity.
Chairing a meeting on the affairs of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research at the Prime Minister’s House, the prime minister said agriculture and food security were vital pillars of the country’s economy and emphasised the need for comprehensive reforms in the sector.
The prime minister instructed officials to make the consultation process more effective with provincial governments as well as the administrations of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir regarding the agriculture roadmap. He also directed authorities to maintain regular engagement with Pakistani scholars trained in agricultural research in China to benefit from their expertise in introducing reforms in the country’s agricultural sector.
Earlier, prime minister appreciated Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and his team for the increase in National Highway Authority (NHA)’s revenue, effective implementation of safety measures on motorways and highways, improvement of service areas and other initiatives. He was chairing a meeting to review the performance of the National Highway Authority (NHA).
During the meeting, the prime minister was informed that compared to 2024, NHA’s revenue increased from Rs66.8 billion to Rs109 billion in the fiscal year 2025. The meeting was informed that compared to 2024, the use of M-Tag on motorways increased from 20 percent to 81 percent in 2025. Compliance with axle load limits on highways and motorways has reached 90 percent and 95 percent respectively. The meeting was told that an air ambulance service will be introduced on motorways this year. In addition, Rescue 1122 services remain available at all motorway interchanges at all times. It was further informed that the upgradation of Lyari Expressway, Thokar Niaz Baig (N-5) and the Islamabad-Murree Expressway had been completed through NHA’s own budget. Earlier, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed matters of mutual interest.
