PM Shehbaz set to address UNGA

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to address the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday. In his speech, he will represent Pakistan's viewpoint on the changing regional and international security landscape, emphasizing dialogue, diplomacy, restraint, and peaceful dispute resolution. This approach has been a hallmark of Pakistan's foreign policy throughout its current term on the UN Security Council.

During the address, he will detail Pakistan's priorities concerning sustainable development, climate change, counter-terrorism, Islamophobia, global economic issues, UN reforms, and the Sustainable Development Goals. A significant aspect of his speech will be the Global South, with a plea for enhanced collaboration on the shared development, economic, climate, and security challenges faced by developing nations.

Additionally, the prime minister will draw attention to the ongoing occupation of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, asserting that these issues must be addressed in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.

Upon arriving in New York on Monday, Shehbaz was greeted by Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, and other mission officials. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

On Tuesday, he attended the UNGA opening session, where US President Donald Trump referred to him as a "terrific man" while discussing the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict. On Wednesday, Shehbaz spoke at the 40th anniversary session of the Declaration on the Right to Development, advocating for reforms in the international financial system, tackling debt distress, and supporting climate adaptation and loss-and-damage financing.

He also met with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, discussing Pakistan's transition from macroeconomic stabilization to economic recovery and the upcoming IMF program review.

Throughout the visit, Shehbaz met with various global leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Denis Bećirović, and Bill Gates. He discussed polio eradication, agricultural reforms, and invited US-based Pakistani business leaders to invest in Pakistan. On Thursday, he met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss regional matters and bilateral relations.