Pakistan’s stance on Palestine, J&K presented at UNGA: PM
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has articulated Pakistan’s position on various issues, including Palestine and Kashmir, during his address at the United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking at a news conference in London, the Prime Minister shared details of his meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly session.
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Shehbaz Sharif noted productive discussions with leaders such as the British Prime Minister, the Chief Executive of Bangladesh, the President of Turkiye, the Prime Minister of Iraq, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, and others.
During his speech at the UN, he passionately advocated for Palestine, calling for its immediate full membership in the United Nations. He condemned the brutality and atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza, demanding an end to the bloodshed of Palestinians.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the severe human rights violations perpetrated by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir, insisting that the Kashmiris should be granted their inalienable right to self-determination, as per UN Security Council resolutions, including a promised plebiscite.
On the economic front, the Prime Minister expressed optimism about Pakistan’s trajectory towards stability. He emphasized that the country has been saved from default and is back on the right economic path, mentioning a recent stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the approval of seven billion dollars under the Extended Fund Facility program.
In New York, he met with the Managing Director of the IMF and the President of the World Bank, who praised Pakistan’s economic progress and government initiatives.
The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to friendly nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and China, for their significant support in finalizing the IMF agreement. He also acknowledged the efforts of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and their economic team, as well as Pakistan’s Ambassador to China and the Chinese envoy for their roles in securing the IMF program.
Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif commended Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir for his contribution to the agreement with the IMF.
He remarked that Pakistan has emerged from economic difficulties and is now moving towards stability, with inflation reduced to 9.4 percent from 32 percent last year. The State Bank of Pakistan has lowered the policy rate to 17 percent, and commodity prices are stabilizing, reflecting significant improvements in the economic situation.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for collective efforts from the entire nation, particularly the elite, to foster economic development in the country.
