Islamabad, Pakistan – The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, is scheduled to visit New York on 27 September to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The participation underlines that Pakistan continues to demonstrate its continued commitment to the United Nations in fostering international cooperation and addressing issues afflicting the world.
Long-standing concerns of the whole world, including Palestine and Kashmir, which have been on the agenda of the UN Security Council for decades, will be at the center of his concern. He shall urge a renewed, resolute focus on these critical issues to restore peace and justice on the globe.
In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign Office said that PM Shehbaz will also speak on the broader issues of global concern as well, including the need for reforming international financial systems to redress economic imbalances. He will urge the world community to take concrete actions towards issues of climate change with Pakistan having been one of the worst-hit states. The prime minister will urge global moves to check the growing scope of Islamophobia.
Agreed Focus on Regional and Global Collaboration Pakistan’s Foreign Office maintained that PM Shehbaz shall utilize the high-level segment of UNGA for projecting Pakistan’s commitment to putting people at the forefront of both national and global development agendas. Being an incoming member of the UN Security Council for 2025-26, Pakistan would work towards upholding the tenets of the UN Charter while preventing conflict, encouragement towards peace, and sustainable development all over the world.
Sidelines
The prime minister is going to engage in a series of high-profile sideline meetings during the UNGA session. These would include attendance at various such forums. The list includes participation in various such forums, like ‘High-Level Meeting on Existential Threat Posed by Sea-Level Rise’ and ‘Open Debate of UN Security Council on Leadership for Peace’. Prime Minister Shehbaz is going to be part of other global leaders to promote the ‘sustainable development agenda’ further.
He is set to meet bilaterally with the UN Secretary General, President of the General Assembly, and many other world leaders during this session of the GA. However, there is no scheduled confirmed meeting with US President Joe Biden though that may happen informally by proximity at a reception hosted by the President of the US.
Anticipated Meeting with Bangladesh’s Caretaker Leader
Bilaterally, one of the most awaited meetings is that between PM Shehbaz and the new head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This is a major step forward for improvement between Pakistan and Bangladesh, a long-suffered years of tension under former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Observers will be closely watching this meeting in encouraging signs as two South Asian neighbors change perspectives.
