PM Shehbaz Sharif arrives in New York to attend 79th UN General Assembly session

Premier to also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and meet with members of the US-Pakistan Business Council.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in New York to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He is scheduled to address the Assembly on Friday, where he will present Pakistan’s position on various international and regional concerns, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the situation in Palestine.

In his speech, the prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and its support for the United Nations' efforts in promoting global peace, security, and development.

Massive security measures are in place in and around the UN complex for the Assembly’s high-level debate from Sept 24 to 28.

The prime minister is also set to address several summit meetings, including the ‘high-level meeting on existential threat posed by sea-level rise’, ‘SDG Moment 2024’, and the UN Security Council’s open debate on ‘Leadership for Peace’.

In addition to his address, PM Shehbaz will participate in several high-level meetings on the sidelines of the Assembly, including discussions on the threats posed by rising sea levels and the UN Security Council’s open debate on leadership for peace.

The prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and meet with members of the US-Pakistan Business Council and Pakistani bankers to promote Pakistan’s pro-business and investment policies.

During his visit, PM Shehbaz will highlight the impacts of climate change on countries; Pakistan’s sacrifices in its fight against terrorism; challenges faced by the debt-burdened countries; India’s occupation of Kashmir; and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces.

The prime minister will interact with members of the US-Pakistan Business Council and Pakistani bankers to apprise them of his government’s pro-business and investment policies.

Additionally, he is set to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; presidents of the UN General Assembly, European Commission, and the World Bank; Bill Gates; and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

In a scheduled meeting with Palestinian President Mehmood Abbas, PM Shehbaz will consult on ways to persuade the international community to accelerate its efforts to end Israel’s oppression of Palestine.

The prime minister will also attend a luncheon reception by Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah on the completion of 40 years of his country’s UN membership, as well as a dinner reception by Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Dr Muhammad Yunus to mark 50 years of his country’s UN membership.

He will also have a one-on-one meeting with Dr Yunus as the relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have dramatically improved following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Federal Education and Professional Training Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi are members of the prime minister to delegation.