Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly session, as part of a five-day visit filled with key diplomatic engagements.
Today, the PM has a packed schedule in New York. He is set to attend a reception hosted by the UN secretary general and hold informal meetings with various heads of state. Among the notable meetings, Prime Minister Shehbaz will meet with the president of the Maldives and attend the opening ceremony of the United Nations General Assembly session.
Moreover, Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to address the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly on September 27. In his speech, he is said to raise his voice for the oppressed Kashmiris and Palestinians and urge the international community to take decisive action. His speech is expected to emphasize the need for global solidarity and justice for these regions.
The speech is also likely to address the issues of world peace, global financial reforms, climate change and Islamophobia.
Beyond his speech at the General Assembly, Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to participate in and address several high-level meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA. He is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Dr Younas, as well as a discussion with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 25.
He will also attend a lunch hosted by the Sultan of Brunei and a dinner with Bangladesh's chief adviser, focusing on a strategy to restore and strengthen Pak-Bangladesh relations. The PM is also scheduled to meet with the UN secretary general and president, the head of the European Commission as well as heads of friendly countries.
Furthermore, he will engage with leaders of major international financial organisations and institutions, including the president of the World Bank and the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to discuss Pakistan's economic situation and global financial reforms. The PM is also likely to meet with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-founder Bill Gates.
Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar, who is accompanying the prime minister, highlighted the significance of this visit. He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has consistently raised the issue of Palestine at every international forum and that this visit will be no different. The PM is also expected to discuss terrorism and climate change, which are key issues impacting Pakistan and the global community.
Tarar also noted that Pakistan's inflation has dropped to single digits, and the country's IT exports have reached $3.1 billion, signaling positive economic trends that the Prime Minister will showcase during his discussions with international leaders.
