Mian Zahid Hussain welcomes US-Israel-Iran ceasefire;

Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum & All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman Policy Advisory Board FPCCI, and Former Provincial Minister Information Technology, has hailed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran as a landmark victory for global stability and a testament to the effective mediation of Pakistan’s leadership. Speaking to the business community today, he expressed profound relief that the 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time deadline for a major military escalation was averted following intensive diplomatic efforts by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. He emphasized that the “Islamabad Talks,” scheduled to begin this Friday, April 10, 2026, offer a historic opportunity to transition from a two-week pause to a permanent and sustainable peace agreement. He also noted that similar to its role as a bridge between the US and China in 1971, Pakistan has once again emerged as a peacekeeper between the US and Iran, contributing to global peace and prosperity, which has immortalized the names of Prime Minister Mian Shabaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in the annals of world history.

Mian Zahid Hussain noted that the impact of the ceasefire on global markets was immediate and dramatic. Following the agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of the world’s oil and LNG flows—international oil prices have plunged. Brent crude, which had spiked toward $110 per barrel, dropped 15% to approximately $93, while US stock market futures surged by over 1.5% and Pakistan stock market surged with 12,000 points. He remarked that this de-escalation has saved the global economy from a projected 1 percentage point loss in GDP growth and prevented a “dark age” scenario that threatened to cripple international energy security and supply chains.

The veteran business leader highlighted that for Pakistan, this ceasefire is a lifeline for an economy that was reeling under the pressure of the conflict. He pointed out that the war had pushed inflation toward dangerous levels. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will provide much-needed relief to Pakistan’s import bill, as every $10 decrease in oil prices saves the country approximately $1.5 billion annually. He added that the stabilization of regional tensions would also secure vital remittances and encourage the rollover of critical deposits from friendly nations like China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Mian Zahid Hussain lauded the wisdom shown by all parties in accepting the 10-point peace proposal as a workable basis for negotiations. He particularly praised the release of abducted American journalist Shelly Kittleson as a significant goodwill gesture that paved the way for this breakthrough. He concluded by urging the international community to remain constructively engaged during the Islamabad Talks, stressing that the success of these negotiations is essential not only for the Middle East but for the economic survival of developing nations like Pakistan, which remain highly vulnerable to external geopolitical shocks.