ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, will attend the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development in Riyadh from April 28 to 29.
The announcement was made by Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during her weekly media briefing, which took place unusually on Friday instead of the regular Thursday schedule.
She mentioned that the invitation to the conference was extended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Prof Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of The World Economic Forum.
The event provides Pakistan with a significant opportunity to present its priorities, focusing on global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalizing regional collaboration, and striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will visit Gambia on May 4 and 5 for the 15th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit. He intends to address various issues concerning the Muslim world, such as the genocide in Gaza, the right of self-determination for the people of India-held Kashmir, rising Islamophobia, and terrorism, among other global concerns.
He will also highlight Pakistan’s commitment to addressing humanitarian crises and advocating for the rights of oppressed communities.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to participate in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Gambia on May 2 and 3, where he will meet with counterparts from other Muslim countries.
Furthermore, the Foreign Office spokesperson mentioned that work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is progressing.
Regarding recent diplomatic exchanges, she noted the Iranian president’s visit to Pakistan from April 22 to 24, during which discussions on cooperation in various fields took place.
She emphasized that Pakistan’s bilateral relations with Iran were strong and that both countries shared a unified stance on Gaza, condemning Israel’s war crimes and advocating for an independent inquiry into the situation.
“Iran and Pakistan discussed cooperation in various fields, including the trade route of Gwadar and Chahbahar,” she remarked.
Addressing regional concerns, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir at the international level.
Expressing concern over the situation in Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan calls for the international community’s attention to ongoing human rights violations in the region.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts underscore its commitment to advancing its foreign policy agenda, promoting peace, and advocating for justice on both regional and global platforms.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
