Pakistanis in Karachi and Islamabad on Wednesday hailed the country’s role as a mediator that led to a ceasefire between the US and Iran, hoping that prices of petroleum products will also come down in the days ahead.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the ceasefire between Iran and the US on social media platform X during the early hours of Wednesday, saying the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon, where Israel launched strikes.
Muhammad Imran Ghori, a 45-year-old restaurant employee in Islamabad, said Pakistanis are “very proud” of the ceasefire.
“Because until some time ago, no one was willing to acknowledge Pakistan, no one believed that something this significant could be done from here,” he said.
“So Pakistan has carried out a very great task.”
Muhammad Taleem, a 47-year-old civil servant, said petrol prices would not come down immediately but hoped for some relief in future.
“This has also showed Pakistan’s improved diplomatic relations,” Taleem said. “So, because of this improvement as well, God willing, there will be even more benefits for Pakistan in the future.”
Jibran Sarfaraz, a stock trader in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, told Reuters that the stock market had witnessed a surge by more than 12,000 points due to the ceasefire announcement.
“Now let’s see if there is any further negotiation in the coming days and if both countries get on the same page and resolve it,” Sarfaraz told Reuters.
“Then the prices of crude oil will also come down and at the same time the international and national situations will also improve, God willing.”
