LONDON: The prime minister has arrived London and scheduled to stay in London for several days before returning to Islamabad.
During his stay in New York, Shehbaz Sharif addressed the 193-member UN General Assembly and held a series of bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, focusing on regional and international security issues and matters of mutual interest.
He also met members of the Pakistani-American business community and encouraged them to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan.
The premier held talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is expected to visit Pakistan next month. Guterres is due to complete his second five-year term as UN chief on December 31, 2026.
Addressing the General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed that dialogue and diplomacy should remain the primary means of settling disputes. He also warned that any move by India to stop, obstruct or divert Pakistan’s share of river waters would be considered an act of war.
Earlier on Saturday, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), calling it an important mechanism for promoting solidarity, expanding South-South cooperation and producing practical benefits for developing nations.
He made the remarks while speaking at a high-level GDI meeting hosted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the UNGA session.
Shehbaz Sharif praised the initiative, recalling that Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the GDI three years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global cooperation for development was particularly important.
In a televised statement, the prime minister said the GDI’s objectives were closely aligned with Pakistan’s national economic transformation agenda.
He said Pakistan’s partnership with China was also progressing under the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has now entered its second phase.
