PM arrives in New York for 70th UN General Assembly session

PM to address UNGA on September 30

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday arrived in New York to lead the Pakistan delegation at the  70th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Radio Pakistan reported.


Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's envoy to US Jalil Abbas Jilani along with senior officials of the Pakistan mission received the PM at the John F Kennedy International Airport.

Read: Sidelines of UN summit: Nothing set in stone about Nawaz-Modi meet

The ambassador said that the UNGA session would be an opportunity for Pakistan to put its stance on the world stage. Calling it a historical event, she said that around 160 world leaders are scheduled to attend this year's session.

PM to address UNGA on Wednesday

The prime minister will address the UNGA on September 30, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary announced in New York, adding that the is expected to present Pakistan’s foreign policy agenda and its position on several international and regional issues.

While the premier will highlight the situation on the Line of Control and the working boundary, and raise the Kashmir issue, the Foreign Secretary said the prime minister will also meet several world leaders including the president of China on the sideline of the UNGA session.

Read: Pakistan urges UN to take notice of ceasefire violations

Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said Pakistan supports constructive reforms in UN but increasing the number of permanent seats at the UN Security Council is no solution to any problem.

The PM is also expected to attend a high-level roundtable on South-South Cooperation, and the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, hosted by President of China Xi Jinping.