DPM Dar chairs review meeting and orders measures to facilitate and support Pakistanis in the region
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chairs a meeting in Islamabad to review developments in the region. Photo:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday directed authorities to maintain close coordination to facilitate and support Pakistani citizens in the Middle East as the regional crisis continues to escalate.
He issued these instructions while presiding over a meeting to review developments in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a meeting today to review developments in regional events.
DPM/FM took stock of the ongoing efforts of Pakistan missions in the region and coordination with relevant departments. He directed everything… pic.twitter.com/WE79qI6ri2
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 17, 2026
The deputy prime minister took stock of the ongoing efforts of Pakistan’s missions abroad and their coordination with relevant departments. “All stakeholders must remain fully engaged and maintain close coordination, particularly to facilitate and support Pakistani nationals in the region, while closely monitoring the situation,” he said.
Read: PM leads oil supply chain upgrade amid Middle East crisis
The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority and other senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs.
It came hours after a Pakistani national was killed in Abu Dhabi when debris fell in Bani Yas following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defences.
Earlier this month, Pakistan activated a crisis management unit for its citizens in the Middle East after a Pakistani national was killed in the United Arab Emirates during the interception of an Iranian missile. The incident followed joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks.
The Ministry of External Affairs subsequently issued an advisory urging Pakistani citizens residing in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf to exercise utmost caution. They were strongly advised to stay indoors whenever possible, avoid unnecessary travel and strictly comply with instructions issued by host governments.
As the crisis unfolded, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of Pakistanis in Iran via Azerbaijan and to immediately contact the Azerbaijani authorities in this regard.
Read: Top US counterterrorism official resigns over war with Iran and blames “Israel and its powerful American lobby” for the conflict
Since the start of hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, Pakistan’s leadership has intensified its diplomatic efforts to help reduce tensions and promote peace. Dar has maintained close coordination with regional leaders.
Last week, he held telephone conversations with counterparts from several Gulf states and other countries, highlighting the importance of reducing tensions and emphasizing the need for dialogue and diplomacy in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
