General Sahir Shamshad Mirza Represents Pakistan at IDEF-2025

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Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on the Middle East, pressing for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, as reported by ARY News. This article explores Dar’s call for peace, Pakistan’s diplomatic role, and the domestic economic challenges tied to the government’s controversial petroleum levy hike.

Addressing the UNSC, Dar condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, labeling it a humanitarian catastrophe that demands immediate action. He highlighted the staggering loss of over 58,000 Palestinian lives since October 2023, urging an unconditional ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid. Dar emphasized the need to protect aid workers and bolster the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports millions of Palestinians. He advocated for a two-state solution, envisioning a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, aligning with UN resolutions and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stance, according to ARY News.

Pakistan’s leadership in the UNSC reflects its commitment to global justice, with Dar also addressing Syria’s stabilization and Lebanon’s sovereignty. This assertive diplomacy elevates Pakistan’s international profile but contrasts sharply with domestic struggles. The government’s plan to raise the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) by Rs3-10 per liter to tackle a Rs2,800 billion circular debt in the gas sector has sparked outrage. As Daily Times reports, this could generate Rs180 billion annually but falls short of the Rs250 billion needed yearly to clear the debt. Driven by International Monetary Fund (IMF) demands, the levy risks fueling inflation, hitting consumers and industries hard.

The PDL hike underscores a troubling reliance on regressive taxation, ignoring calls to reform bloated bureaucracies or tax underperforming sectors like real estate. With global oil prices dropping, this move threatens to erode purchasing power and weaken export competitiveness, particularly in textiles, as Geo.tv notes. Dar’s global advocacy for fairness must translate into equitable policies at home. Citizens, already burdened by high costs, deserve fiscal responsibility over measures that disproportionately harm the vulnerable. Pakistan’s government must balance its international ideals with domestic accountability to avoid further economic strain.