https://arab.news/ctsyk
- Shehbaz Sharif will have a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss Israeli military campaign in Gaza
- He will hold bilateral meetings with heads of friendly countries as well as members of the US-Pakistan Business Council
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is due to arrive in the United States today, Tuesday, to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Sharif office said.
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 pressing issues.
PM Sharif will address the UNGA session, participate in Sustainable Development Goals Moment 2024, attend a high-level open debate of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), titled ‘Leadership for Peace,’ and participate in a session on the looming threat of rising sea-level, according to the prime minister’s office.
“Shehbaz Sharif will also hold meetings with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President General Assembly Philemon Yang, President European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Founder of Gates Foundation Bill Gates, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Ms. Kristalina Georgieva,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
The prime minister will have a special meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza and efforts to persuade the international community to step up to stop Israel from further military actions, according to the statement.
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.
During his visit to New York, Sharif will hold bilateral meetings with the heads of friendly countries and attend a dinner to be hosted by Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, on the completion of 50 years of Bangladesh’s membership of the United Nations.
The prime minister will also meet the US-Pakistan Business Council and Pakistani bankers, and inform them about his government’s business and investment-friendly policies, according to his office.
He will highlight before the world leaders the threat of climate change, Pakistan’s sacrifices to eliminate terrorism in the region, and problems relating to the global economic system and debt-trapped countries. He will also talk about India’s unilateral actions in part of Kashmir it controls.
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi will also be accompanying the prime minister during the visit.