ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, including UN chief António Guterres, as he gears up to present Pakistan’s stance on international issues such as Israel’s war on Gaza and the Kashmir dispute at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, his office said on Sunday. 

Sharif departed from the country on Saturday to attend the 79th UNGA session in New York, where he is scheduled to arrive on September 23 and stay until September 27. The UNGA holds annual sessions, bringing together world leaders to discuss pressing global concerns.

According to Pakistan’s foreign office, Sharif will use this platform to stress the need for addressing long-standing issues on the Security Council’s agenda, particularly the question of Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remain central to international and South Asian peace and stability.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Sharif would attend several high-level meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA Session next week, including the “High-Level Meeting on Existential Threat posed by Sea-level Rise,” and the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on “Leadership for Peace.”

“He will also engage with a group of world leaders to discuss measures needed at the global level to advance the sustainable development agenda,” the PMO said. “His program includes bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly.”

The PMO said Sharif will underline the importance of addressing “the inequities in international economic relations” and reforming the international financial architecture. 

“He will also urge the international community to take decisive measures in addressing climate change and countering the rising tide of Islamophobia,” his office said. 

The PMO said Sharif will reaffirm Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the role of the UN in fostering global peace, security, and prosperity. 

He will emphasize the importance of addressing long-standing issues on the agenda of the UN Security Council, including the question of Palestine and the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, Sharif’s office said. 

“He will also express Pakistan’s commitment, as an incoming member of the UN Security Council for the year 2025-26, to work with all UN Member States to uphold the UN Charter, preventing conflict, fostering peace, and promoting global prosperity,” the PMO said.