Aga Khan lauds PM for peace efforts

Shehbaz invites US firms to tap Pak investment potential

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday received praise for Pakistan's regional peace efforts from Prince RahimAga Khan V and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during separate meetings on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

According to an official statement shared on social media, the prime minister warmly welcomed Prince Rahim and fondly recalled their meeting earlier this year during his visit to Pakistan. Prince Rahim lauded Shehbaz's efforts for regional peace and stability at a crucial time when the region was engulfed by war.

Prince RahimAga Khan reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the statement said. The prime minister appreciated the longstanding services of the Ismaili community to Pakistan's socioeconomic development.

He also acknowledged the contributions of AKDN-affiliated institutions towards financial inclusion, tourism promotion, cultural preservation and community-led economic empowerment, stressing the need to fully harness the potential for further cooperation in these areas.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the two leaders exchanging views on major regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in promoting international peace and development, reiterating the country's strong attachment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Also, the prime minister invited the American businesses to tap into Pakistan's vast economic potential, highlighting the country's investor-friendly policy framework and massive reforms undertaken by his government to safeguard foreign investments and foster high-growth business climate.

The prime minister met with joint delegation of the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and the US-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC), on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly here, where he said Pakistan was making efforts to support peace initiatives in the region.