Pakistan/New York – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in New York on Tuesdat to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The high-level segment begins Tuesday, where the premier is scheduled to address the Assembly and hold key bilateral and multilateral meetings.
Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, along with senior ministers and officials, the Prime Minister is expected to spotlight Pakistan’s perspective on pressing international challenges.
Key Address at UNGA
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he is expected to urge the international community to resolve prolonged occupations in Indian-held Kashmir and Palestine.
According to the Foreign Office, the premier will draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for decisive action to end Palestinian suffering. His speech will also highlight Pakistan’s perspective on regional security, climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development.
Multilateral and Bilateral Engagements
On the sidelines of UNGA, PM Shehbaz will participate in several high-level events, including meetings of the UN Security Council, the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and a Special High-Level Event on Climate Action.
He will also join a select group of Islamic leaders for a multilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss regional peace and security, with Gaza expected to feature prominently on the agenda. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump will meet leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Indonesia.
In addition, PM Shehbaz will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, including Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Kuwaiti Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, as well as heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He is also scheduled to meet senior UN officials.
Pakistan’s Position on Palestine
Meanwhile, Pakistan welcomed the recognition of Palestine by countries including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal. At a high-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of Palestine, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar urged all states yet to recognise Palestine to take similar steps in line with international law.
“Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Palestine in 1988 and has consistently called for its full membership of the UN,” the Foreign Office said. The DPM’s presence reaffirmed Pakistan’s historic solidarity with the Palestinians, while condemning ongoing Israeli aggression and calling for an immediate ceasefire.
OIC, UN, and Commonwealth Engagements
At an OIC High-Level Event on Peace and Tolerance, Ishaq Dar underscored the universal relevance of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) teachings of justice, pluralism, and interfaith harmony, citing the Charter of Medina as an enduring example. He called for stronger OIC-UN partnerships to foster peace amid global conflicts.
Speaking at the UNGA High-Level Meeting on the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Deputy PM recalled Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of gender equality and reaffirmed Pakistan’s progress, from electing the first woman Prime Minister in the Muslim world to the election of Punjab’s first female Chief Minister. He highlighted reforms such as gender-based violence courts, women police stations, and progressive protection laws, alongside social protection programs like the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
In another engagement, Dar represented Pakistan at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to youth empowerment, climate resilience, digital transformation, and strengthening trade under the Commonwealth’s Connectivity Agenda.
Arab-Islamic and Bilateral Consultations
The Deputy PM also joined consultations among Arab-Islamic foreign ministers hosted by Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Ministers from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye coordinated positions on key issues at the UNGA.
Dar underscored Pakistan’s enduring affinity with Muslim nations and pledged support for initiatives fostering peace and prosperity.
Diplomatic Outreach
On the sidelines, the Deputy PM/FM met several dignitaries, including Montenegro’s Deputy PM Ervin Ibrahimović, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anan, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, United Nations Police (UNPOL) Adviser Faisal Shahkar, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’a, Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
A Showcase of Pakistan’s Multilateral Commitment
Officials say the Prime Minister’s engagements reaffirm Pakistan’s strong commitment to multilateralism, peace, and prosperity, particularly in its current role as a member of the UN Security Council.
At the 80th UNGA, Pakistan is expected to spotlight its longstanding contributions to global peace, justice, gender equality, and sustainable development, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar leading the effort.
