Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Saturday. During the meeting, he urged the global body to increase climate finance for vulnerable countries, especially those like Pakistan. He highlighted the urgent need for international support to help nations facing the harshest effects of climate change.
PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude for the UN’s support during Pakistan’s recent floods, which caused major destruction and worsened food inflation. He stressed that the floods were a clear reminder of climate injustice faced by developing countries. Therefore, he called for stronger global efforts to provide financial aid and resilience support to affected regions.
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Beyond climate, the prime minister raised key national and regional issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and India’s violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. He condemned state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan and called for a peaceful resolution in Kashmir based on UN Security Council resolutions. The secretary-general was praised for his role in easing tensions between Pakistan and India.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza was also discussed, with PM Shehbaz urging an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid access. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Palestinian statehood and called for a long-term political solution. He emphasized the need for international unity to prevent further suffering in the region.
Both leaders agreed that the United Nations must continue playing a central role in tackling global challenges. PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace, stability, and multilateral cooperation. The Secretary-General praised Pakistan’s leadership and pledged to work closely on shared goals for climate action and peace.