As a critical 15-day ceasefire window rapidly approaches its close, veteran business leader Mian Zahid Hussain today underscored the immense urgency for a breakthrough in the US-Israel-Iran peace process, cautioning that failure could plunge global energy and stock markets into renewed instability and trigger a regional catastrophe.
Mian Zahid Hussain, President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, expressed cautious optimism regarding current diplomatic endeavours aimed at resolving the escalating US-Israel-Iran dispute. He firmly stated that the economic survival of the entire region is inextricably linked to the success of ongoing discussions in Islamabad. The conditional truce, which commenced on 8th April 2026, has provided vital respite for a world economy still grappling with volatile energy prices. He recalled how the earlier blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit point for approximately 20% of global petroleum, had driven oil prices to unprecedented levels, severely impacting Pakistan’s industrial sector and increasing the cost of doing business.
The prominent business figure lauded the proactive efforts of Pakistan’s civil and military establishment in brokering the ceasefire and facilitating high-level dialogue between the disputing parties. He specifically highlighted the “Islamabad Talks,” which took place on 11th-12th April at the Serena Hotel, as particularly significant. These marked the first direct, high-level engagement between the United States and Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Despite the initial 21-hour marathon session concluding without a final accord, the mutual agreement to maintain engagement under Pakistan’s mediation represents a substantial diplomatic achievement for the country. Furthermore, the visit of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to Tehran from 15th to 17th April was deemed instrumental in addressing prevailing security concerns and fortifying the trust essential for sustaining the delicate peace initiative.
In a related development, the Chairman of the National Business Group Pakistan also commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent diplomatic tour to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Trkiye, where the Premier participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. These high-level visits, according to Mian Zahid Hussain, have successfully consolidated a regional consensus on de-escalation, ensuring key Middle Eastern stakeholders are aligned with the broader peace framework. He observed that the international community, including leaders from Italy, Canada, and Austria, has formally recognised Pakistan’s pivotal role as a bridge between the estranged factions.
Looking ahead, Hussain conveyed high hopes for the resumption of negotiations in Islamabad, scheduled for Tuesday, 21st April. He reiterated that the stakes are exceptionally high given the rapidly diminishing ceasefire period. He pressed both delegations to prioritise the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and to work towards a permanent cessation of hostilities to avert a full-scale regional calamity.
The former Provincial Minister Information Technology warned that if the Tuesday discussions fail to produce a concrete roadmap for sanctions relief and nuclear guarantees, the ensuing uncertainty could trigger a renewed surge in global inflation. Mian Zahid Hussain concluded by asserting that Pakistan’s emergence as a central diplomatic hub not only elevates its international standing but also presents a unique opportunity to secure long-term economic stability for the entire Muslim Ummah.