Shehbaz, BD interim leader hold meeting in New York

ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK/UNITED NATIONS/PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with the Chief Adviser of Interim Government of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on the sidelines of the 79th Session of UN General Assembly in New York, says a PM office press release on Wednesday.

The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s strong fraternal ties with Bangladesh, based on common faith, history and culture. He also emphasized that both sides need to work together to further strengthen the bilateral relations. Capitalizing on the immense goodwill and warmth among the people of the two countries, he encouraged fostering relations through parliamentary exchanges, people-to-people contacts and interactions among sportspersons, academics, artists, students, etc.

In addition, the prime minister extended an invitation to the BD chief executive to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his convenience, reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation and dialogue. Both sides agreed that there was a need to work closely at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels for the progress and development of the peoples of both countries.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended a ceremony to mark 50 years of Bangladesh’s membership of the United Nations on the invitation of its Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus. Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi accompanied the prime minister.

Dr Muhammad Younis warmly welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz and members of his delegation at the ceremony held on Tuesday night on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The two leaders agreed to promote cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh in various fields. There was a positive discussion regarding the expansion of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and called on him to use his good offices for the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, and ensuring the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris.

The prime minister, in the meeting held on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, briefed the UN secretary-general on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

He underscored Pakistan’s serious concerns over India’s egregious actions in the IIOJ&K and stressed upon the need to resolve the dispute to ensure lasting peace and stability in South Asia.

The prime minister welcomed the initiative by the Secretary General Guterres to organize the “Summit of the Future”, and expressed his hope that its outcome would help the developing countries in bridging the financial gap for implementation of SDGs and climate goals. He condemned Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians, and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The prime minister also urged the international community to hold Israel accountable and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the establishment of a viable and sovereign State of Palestine.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also underscored the need for stemming the rising tide of Islamophobia, and discrimination against Muslims worldwide. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to actively contribute towards international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the year 2025-26.

Secretary General Guterres thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s active engagement at the United Nations as well as for its role towards international peace and security in the form of its UN’s peacekeeping force.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday and congratulated him on his passionate address to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly that centred on the Palestinian crisis. “The way the Turkish President highlighted the issue touched the hearts of all those listening to him in the Assembly hall,” he told reporters after the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Assembly’s 79th session.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Turkey have brotherly relations and that President Erdogan would soon pay a visit to Pakistan. Shehbaz and Erdogan agreed to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, defence and security domains. The two leaders discussed bilateral matters, regional and global developments, according to a PM Office press release. They assessed preparations for the upcoming 7th session of Pakistan-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to be held in Islamabad in the near future. The two leaders also discussed regional and global developments, especially the ongoing genocide and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. They called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and end of hostilities.

Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated Turkey’s firm and consistent support for the oppressed people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

During the meeting, President Erdogan expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s economic policies, which have played a crucial role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy and commended his leadership and commitment to economic reforms. Furthermore, President Erdogan also extended his heartfelt birthday wishes to Prime Minister Shehbaz who celebrated his 73rd Birthday this week.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and expressed Pakistan’s keenness to further strengthen ties between Pakistan and Kuwait.

In the meeting held on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly Session here, the prime minister affirmed the longstanding cordial relations between the two brotherly countries. The two leaders also reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, ranging from political, economic and defence cooperation to people-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed his desire to engage with Kuwait in mutually beneficial economic investments under the Special Investment Facilitation Council.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz’s inclusive address at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Moment 2024, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at New York, has garnered widespread acclaim from international relations experts, civil society members, environmentalists and politicians, terming it inclusive and wide ranging with solution to all issues.

Manzoorul Haq, a former Pakistani ambassador, emphasized the significance of the prime minister’s focus on pressing global challenges such as debt burdens, climate change and carbon emissions. He noted that these issues disproportionately affected developing nations, including Pakistan, which has been severely impacted by climate-related disasters despite no contribution in global carbon gas emissions.

Ejaz Khan, a former chairman of the International Relations Department at the University of Peshawar, commended the inclusivity of PM Sharif’s speech. He pointed out the prime minister’s candid discussion on combating terrorism, climate change and its great toll on Pakistan, citing the loss of approximately 80,000 lives and an economic setback of $150 billion due to the imposed terrorism war. He urged the Afghan government to take responsibility for preventing its territory from being used for anti-Pakistan activities.