PM focuses on climate, trade at UN

Shehbaz holds talks with world leaders on fringes of UNGA summit

NEW YORK:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held important meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly with a focus on the measures to deal with climate change and enhance trade partnerships with Pakistan.

Shehbaz, who met the presidents of France and Iran, the prime minister of Spain, and chancellor of Austria on Tuesday, is scheduled to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Karistalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpss and other leaders.

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The prime minister said that in his meetings with world leaders on the fringes of the General Assembly session, he informed them about the disastrous floods in the country and stressed the need for collective global action to deal with climate change.

“In my interactions with the world leaders on the sidelines of UNGA Session, I apprised them of the flood disaster and highlighted the need for a collective action to deal with climate change,” the prime minister said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Sharif also highlighted Pakistan’s intent to strengthen ties with other countries relating to trade and economy. “I also told them Pakistan is keen to build partnerships in the realms of trade and economy,” he added in the tweet.

Prime Minister Shehbaz is leading the Pakistan delegation at the 77th General Assembly session, which began on Tuesday with a call from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the developed countries to help the developing nations cope with the climate change issues.

The prime minister is scheduled to address the General Assembly session on Friday. On Wednesday, he joined the world leaders in the ‘Closed-Door Leaders Gathering on COP 27’, organised by Egypt. Later, he held a meeting with Finland President Sauli Niinisto.

In the evening, the prime minister was scheduled to meet US president Joe Biden at the American Museum of Natural History, during a reception hosted by the US president for the world leaders attending the General Assembly.

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Before leaving the UN on Friday, the prime minister would also meet the heads of IMF and the World Bank. He would also call on the General Assembly President Csaba Korosi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a separate tweet, Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked Secretary General Guterres for his strong advocacy of the plight of flood victims of Pakistan and for drawing the world’s attention to the most urgent actionable issue of climate change. Shehbaz said that the international community should move away from talking about climate and act together to deal with the issue.

In another tweet, Shehbaz thanked that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for highlighting the need for continued international assistance to help Pakistan deal with the disastrous floods. He commended Erdogan for his consistent support for the rights of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).