PM lands in Riyadh to attend 'One Water Summit'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for a two-day visit to attend the One Water Summit, taking place from December 3 to 4.

The summit, part of the One Planet Summit initiative, aims to tackle global water security challenges, including deteriorating water quality, increasing scarcity, and rising water-related natural disasters.

The event, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia, France, Kazakhstan, and the World Bank, was announced during the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference. It will convene alongside the 16th session of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

PM Shehbaz was welcomed by Riyadh Deputy Governor Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Rehman bin Abdul Aziz upon his arrival.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi accompanied the Prime Minister, while Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, and other officials from both countries were also present.

In a message posted on X, PM Shehbaz described the summit as a “timely event to deliberate upon collective strategies to tackle water security challenges.”

He added, "Together, we aim to accelerate action to combat desertification, address water pollution, and advocate for local, regional and global action. Let’s unite in our pursuit for water sustainability!”

During his two-day stay, the premier will deliver a keynote address at a roundtable, where he will highlight Pakistan’s efforts to combat water scarcity, improve climate resilience, and promote biodiversity.

On the sidelines, he is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with international leaders to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic ties.

This is PM Shehbaz’s third visit to Saudi Arabia in recent months. He attended the Arab-Islamic Summit in November and participated in the 8th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in October, 2024.