UN chief to visit Pakistan as Dar briefs media on PM’s UNGA visit

ISLAMABAD: UN chief to visit Pakistan as Dar briefs media on PM’s UNGA visit

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation to visit Pakistan, with the visit expected to take place before the end of Guterres’s tenure.

Dar made the announcement while briefing the media at the Foreign Office on Prime Minister Shehbaz’s recent visit to New York to attend the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He said Guterres was a strong supporter of Pakistan, particularly during climate-related disasters, and that Islamabad would soon announce details of his visit.

“Very soon, we will release the programme and he will visit Pakistan on the prime minister’s invitation,” Dar said, adding that he expected the visit to be “memorable”.

Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz led Pakistan’s delegation during the UNGA session and held a series of high-level and bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the gathering.

The UN General Assembly’s high-level week provides an opportunity for world leaders and senior representatives to participate in the general debate and hold bilateral meetings and other engagements on international and national-interest issues. The general debate of the 81st session was held from Sept 22 to 26, with an additional sitting on Sept 28.

Dar said the prime minister’s address presented Pakistan’s perspective on major regional and global challenges, including Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, water issues and Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and dialogue.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s “unequivocal” position on Palestine and presented Islamabad’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir.

The prime minister also apprised the international community of Pakistan’s position regarding its recent conflict with India and the Indus Waters Treaty, Dar said.

He said Pakistan also highlighted its diplomatic efforts to promote peace and dialogue, including its role in facilitating contacts between the United States and Iran.

According to Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz also drew attention to the impact of disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab on energy supply chains and global prices.

“The impact of these developments was also felt in Pakistan, with oil prices almost doubling,” Dar said.

He said the prime minister also highlighted issues related to Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia in his UNGA address and apprised the international community of Pakistan’s position.

Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz also acknowledged the diplomatic efforts of Pakistan’s armed forces leadership and the Foreign Office in efforts related to the US-Iran conflict.

The deputy prime minister described the prime minister’s UNGA speech as a successful representation of Pakistan’s position, saying it received repeated applause from the audience.

He said Pakistan’s efforts to promote multilateralism had also received recognition at the United Nations, pointing to its elected membership of the UN Security Council.

Dar said Pakistan’s two-year elected term on the Security Council would conclude on Dec 31 and recalled that Islamabad had also chaired the council in 2025.

He said Pakistan had promoted multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes during its tenure.

Dar said a resolution on multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes presented by Pakistan had been unanimously adopted by the Security Council after a gap of 12 years, describing it as evidence of international recognition for Islamabad’s efforts.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations.

Dar said he had chaired a UN Security Council meeting on the issue and that the statement adopted under Pakistan’s presidency had also received unanimous approval.

He said a resolution adopted during Pakistan’s tenure had subsequently been cited in connection with the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.

Dar also recalled Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran.

He said Pakistan had helped bring the two sides to the negotiating table after 47 years, referring to talks held in Islamabad in April.

Dar said six sessions were held over two days, with consultations and breaks, and described the engagement as a significant diplomatic development.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted these efforts during his UNGA engagements.

Dar also said the prime minister highlighted the impact of disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab on energy supplies and prices.

He said the government had also approved relief measures for motorcycle, three-wheel and small-car users despite financial constraints and the IMF programme.

Dar said meetings on the fuel relief scheme were held before and after the prime minister’s departure for New York and that millions of people were benefiting from the initiative.

He described the scheme as a major initiative by the prime minister.

The deputy prime minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted the security threat posed by terrorism originating from Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan.

He said the prime minister also referred to recent developments involving the Houthis and Iraqi militias and their implications for Saudi Arabia.

PM’s high-level engagements

Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz attended several high-level events during his stay in New York, including a meeting marking the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development.

He said the prime minister also participated in a high-level meeting on China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI).

Dar said the initiative was launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping and that the Chinese vice-president was present at the event.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz was among the speakers invited to address the gathering and presented Pakistan’s position on the initiative.

Dar also mentioned a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump for heads of delegations attending the UNGA.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz was invited to the reception and had an interaction with the US president.

Dar said the White House had subsequently released photographs from the event, including one showing Prime Minister Shehbaz with President Trump.

Bilateral meetings

Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz held a series of bilateral and delegation-level meetings with foreign leaders and international officials during his visit.

He said the meeting with UN Secretary-General Guterres was among the prime minister’s key engagements, during which Pakistan formally extended an invitation to the UN chief to visit the country.

Dar said Guterres accepted the invitation and recalled his support for Pakistan, particularly during climate-related disasters.

He said Guterres’s current tenure would end on Dec 31 and expressed hope that the visit would take place before then.

Dar said the prime minister also held a “very fruitful” meeting with the Emir and Prime Minister of Kuwait, during which bilateral and economic issues were discussed.

He noted Kuwait’s longstanding role in supplying diesel to Pakistan and recalled arrangements for supplies on deferred payment terms.

Other meetings included engagements with the presidents of Kenya, Iran and Syria, the chair of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the prime minister of Bangladesh.

Dar said the meeting with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was conducted in a “very warm” and cordial atmosphere.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz also met the Lebanese prime minister, who appreciated Pakistan’s role in supporting a ceasefire during the US-Iran conflict.

Dar recalled that Pakistan had worked to ensure that the ceasefire arrangements also covered Lebanon.

He said Pakistan’s delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz, also held meetings with the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council.

The discussions covered Pakistan’s bilateral trade and economic relations with the European Union, including the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) arrangement.

Dar said the parties also discussed the transition period for the existing GSP+ arrangement and the next phase beginning in 2029.

IMF, Aga Khan and business community meetings

Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz also held a “very good” meeting with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

He said the IMF chief appreciated Pakistan’s efforts on structural reforms and congratulated the prime minister on the progress made.

The prime minister also met Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Dar said, recalling Prince Rahim’s recent visit to Pakistan.

Dar said the Pakistani delegation also interacted with Pakistani-American business leaders and representatives of the US-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said the gathering in New York included business leaders from major international companies and groups operating in the United States.

Dar said the overall programme was considerably more extensive than a typical UNGA visit, with the prime minister and his delegation undertaking a large number of bilateral and multilateral engagements.

He said the purpose of the visit was to present Pakistan’s position on regional and global issues, advance national interests and strengthen diplomatic and economic relations with partner countries.

More to follow…