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- Shehbaz Sharif to address 79th session of United Nations General Assembly on Friday, says state media
- Pakistani prime minister to interact with world leaders, attend key sessions at sidelines of the event
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will present Pakistan’s stance on key global issues, including Israel’s war on Gaza, the Kashmir dispute and the adverse effects of climate change, as he takes part in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly this week, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.
New York has once again taken center stage as world leaders, policymakers, and international stakeholders arrive in the city to attend this year’s UNGA from Sept. 10-28. Policymakers and global leaders are arriving in the city for a series of high-level discussions and summits aimed at addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.
The Pakistani prime minister will address the UNGA on Friday, Radio Pakistan said. According to local media reports, the Pakistani prime minister is in the United Kingdom from where he will depart for New York today, Monday, to attend the UNGA session.
“In his address, the Prime Minister will highlight Pakistan’s perspective on a range of international and regional issues of concern, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Palestine issue,” state media reported. “The Prime Minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the role of the United Nations in fostering global peace, security and prosperity.”
Sharif is scheduled to attend several high-level meetings, including discussions on existential threats posed by sea level rise and the UN Security Council’s open “Debate on Leadership for Peace” session, Radio Pakistan said.
He will also hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders and meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit to New York.
Israel launched its war on Gaza on Oct. 7 after Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israeli military campaign has since demolished swathes of the besieged territory killed more than 41,000 people, displaced nearly all of its 2.3 million people multiple times, and given rise to deadly hunger and disease in the area.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.