UN Visit
UNITED NATIONS: After concluding his five-day visit to the UN headquarters in New York, interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq traveled to London on Saturday. Speculations suggested a ‘secret rendezvous’ with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in the British capital.
In a Friday evening news conference in New York, Mr. Kakar hinted at his return home to collaborate with the Election Commission. He stated that the new government would handle long-term relations like negotiations with the IMF. When asked about a possible meeting with Nawaz Sharif, he gave no response. Regarding Mr. Sharif’s October return to Pakistan, he asserted that the former premier would be “subject to Pakistan’s laws.”
The interim PM also remained silent on whether he would visit Saudi Arabia on his way back to Islamabad.
Interim PM fails to meet Erdogan, official US delegation, flies to London amid rumours of meeting with Nawaz
Official sources revealed that PM Kakar made a stopover in Paris en route to New York, where he visited the Eiffel Tower with his family. During his stay in New York, he spent quality time with family and friends, and on Thursday night, he dined at a Turkish restaurant.
Despite a busy official schedule, he met various global leaders. This list included Turkish President Recep Erdogan, although their meeting did not materialize for undisclosed reasons. Additionally, he did not hold a separate meeting with the official US delegation.
According to the interim premier, he engaged with US business bodies interested in Pakistan’s economic revival plans, particularly in the areas of privatization and the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Pakistan and IMF
Mr. Kakar reported a detailed meeting with IMF officials at the UN headquarters. He stated, “The interim government’s actions against illegal dollar trading received high praise from the IMF.”
He further explained, “The IMF didn’t make any demands; instead, the caretaker government was instilling confidence and committing to uphold the agreements.”
Regarding Pakistan-US relations, Mr. Kakar emphasized that Pakistan possesses a distinct identity and should not be viewed through “regional or extra-regional prisms.”
