Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to outline Pakistan’s position on several global issues in his address to the UN General Assembly.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is scheduled to deliver Pakistan’s national statement on September 25. His address comes during the high-level week of the session, when heads of state and government gather to set out their countries’ positions on the world stage.
The visit takes place at a tense global moment, with the situation in the Middle East expected to feature prominently in discussions among world leaders. Ahead of the address, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, briefed the media in New York on the themes the prime minister intends to raise.
This year’s session carries the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights.” For Pakistan, the assembly offers a platform to present its stance on a range of regional and international matters, while emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy as its preferred approach to resolving disputes.
Kashmir and Palestine Among Key Issues in Pakistan’s UNGA Address
According to the ambassador, the prime minister will draw the international community’s attention to the issues of Kashmir and Palestine during his speech. Both have long featured as recurring elements of Pakistan’s foreign policy messaging at the United Nations.
On Palestine, Pakistan has called for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza and has continued to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions. On Kashmir, Islamabad has regularly raised the dispute at the UN and called for the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan would continue to support dialogue and diplomacy for the resolution of conflicts. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who arrived in New York ahead of the prime minister, is also scheduled to attend meetings on these issues on the sidelines of the session.
Climate Change and Global Cooperation on the Agenda
Beyond regional matters, the prime minister’s speech is expected to cover a broad set of international priorities. The ambassador said multilateral cooperation, climate change, and the prevailing global situation would all form part of the address.
The Foreign Office outlined a wider list of themes the prime minister plans to raise. These include sustainable development, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, reform of the United Nations, and the challenges facing the Global South.
Climate change remains a particularly significant issue for Pakistan, which has repeatedly highlighted its vulnerability to extreme weather events despite contributing relatively little to global emissions. The country has used international forums to press for greater cooperation and support on climate resilience.
Running through these themes is Pakistan’s broader message of restraint and peaceful settlement of disputes. The prime minister is expected to underline the importance of dialogue at a time of heightened regional and global strain, and to highlight Pakistan’s own diplomatic and mediation efforts aimed at reducing tensions.
High-Level Meetings on the Sidelines
The New York visit extends well beyond the assembly hall. The prime minister is expected to hold meetings with several world leaders and senior officials over the course of the high-level week.
One meeting of particular interest is still being arranged. The ambassador said Pakistan was working to set up a sit-down between the prime minister and Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook. Such a meeting would point to Pakistan’s interest in strengthening ties with major global technology firms, an area of growing importance for the country’s economic ambitions.
These sideline engagements are often as significant as the speeches themselves. They give leaders the chance to hold direct talks, build relationships, and pursue economic and diplomatic goals away from the formal setting of the General Assembly.
For Pakistan, the combination of a prominent speaking slot and a series of high-level meetings offers an opportunity to advance its priorities across several fronts at once. Deputy Prime Minister Dar has already been holding meetings with foreign ministers and other officials in the days leading up to the prime minister’s address.
With the speech scheduled for September 25, attention now turns to how Pakistan positions itself on the global stage. The address is expected to combine familiar regional concerns with wider international issues, all framed around the country’s stated commitment to dialogue and diplomacy at an unsettled moment in world affairs.
