PM trims UN delegation under austerity

The schedule for speeches by world leaders at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has been released.

The premier is due to arrive on Monday and will address the General Assembly on September 25.

The Pakistani delegation has been significantly streamlined as part of the government's austerity measures. Dar and senior foreign-policy adviser Tariq Fatemi will form the core of the prime minister's delegation, while several federal ministers who had initially been expected to travel have been dropped from the trip, according to sources at the country's UN mission.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Climate Change and Environment Dr Musadik Malik and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal are among those not attending, added the sources.

Dar's preparatory meetings are expected to focus on Pakistan's priorities for the UNGA high-level week and the rapidly changing regional situation.

The Middle East crisis has already figured prominently in discussions at the UN headquarters, with the Security Council holding several meetings on the deteriorating situation in Yemen and the wider region in recent days.

US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani are among the leaders set to address the General Assembly on the opening day.

The General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly session will begin on September 22 and continue through September 28, with meetings scheduled from September 22 to September 26 and again on September 28.

According to the UN's programme, the opening session will begin at 9am on September 22. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be the first speaker, followed by US President Donald Trump.

The morning session will also feature addresses by Jordan's King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the leaders of Lithuania, Peru, Chile and France, among others.

A second session will begin at 3pm on September 22, with leaders from Mongolia, South Korea, Suriname, Sierra Leone, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland and Vietnam among those scheduled to address the assembly.