Confirmed: PM Sharif to lead Pakistan delegation to 70th Session of United Nations General Assembly

Islamabad: The Pakistan Foreign Office on Tuesday confirmed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will undertake a visit to New York to attend the 70th United Nations General Assembly Session from September 25 to September 30.

A release issued from the office of the official spokesman of the Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Sharif will lead the Pakistan delegation to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which will be attended by over 150 world leaders, as per ANI.

It said that this year's UNGA session will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

The Foreign Office statement said that the Prime Minister Sharif will address the General Debate of the General Assembly on September 30, where he will articulate his government's vision of a peaceful neighbourhood and economic development, and share with the world community, Pakistan's position and priorities on key international and regional issues.

It also said that on September 27, Prime Minister Sharif will address the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

It described this agenda as comprehensive and transformative, and comprising of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have set a new global development framework for the next fifteen years, replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Sharif will also co-host, with President Barak Obama of the United States and other world leaders, a Summit on UN Peacekeeping, which would reaffirm the political commitment and support of member states to UN Peacekeeping.

It said that over the years, Pakistan has made a substantial contribution to the United Nations efforts in carrying out its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, as a leading participant in UN peacekeeping missions around the world.

The Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Sharif would also participate in a high-level roundtable on South-South Cooperation, and the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, being hosted by President Xi Jinping of China.

The Foreign Office said that the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the margins of the UNGA Session.

It said that the Prime Minister's participation at the UNGA signifies Pakistan's continuing strong role and engagement with the United Nations and the international community to promote collective responses to the multifaceted challenges of global peace, security and development.

(With Agency inputs)