PM Shahbaz to to address UNGA on Sep 23 to focus on climate change
Nuaman Ishfaq Mughal
London: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Sunday during his visit to London to attend the state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II.
The premier arrived at the office of his nephew Hussain Nawaz in London to meet his brother, accompanied by former finance minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and his son Suleman Shahbaz.The PML-N leaders sat down to discuss the current political and economic situation in Pakistan, along with other issues. Earlier on Saturday, Federal Energy Minister Khurram Dastagir said that the premier is likely to discuss the appointment of the new chief of army staff as well during his meeting with Nawaz.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa is set to retire in the last week of November. The matter of the new chief’s selection has since caused a stir in political circles with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and government coming to verbal blows on the matter.
Without mentioning the name of PTI chairman and ousted premier Imran Khan, Dastgir maintained that no matter how many times anyone met with army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, PM Shehbaz would make the final decision.Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sep 23 with his speech focusing on climate-induced catastrophic floods in the country, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on Sunday.
PM Shehbaz will participate in the UNGA high-level debate in New York from September 19-23, FO said.
The premier’s speech at the UNGA will focus on challenges faced by Pakistan in wake of the recent climate-induced catastrophic floods in the country.
“The prime minister will outline concrete proposals for collectively tackling the existential threat posed by climate change,” the statement added.
The statement said that the premier will also share “Pakistan’s position and perspective on regional and global issues of concern, including Jammu and Kashmir”.Further, the premier will participate in the Global Food Security Summit jointly organised by the African Union, European Union, and the United States, and a closed-door leaders gathering on COP27 bringing together select world leaders to discuss climate change.
On the sidelines, the prime minister will hold a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries, president of the General Assembly, the UN secretary general as well as heads of international organisations, international financial institutions and philanthropic organisations, the FO said.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb will accompany the prime minister during his trip alongside other senior officials.
This UNGA summit stand out with it particular significant as it will be the first in-person session of world leaders to after COVID-19 pandemic as 2020 and 2021 summits were shifted to virtual mood.
