Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan's delegation to the high-level segment of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week, Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed on Thursday. Addressing a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, the spokesperson said the prime minister would highlight Pakistan's perspective on regional and global developments, reaffirming the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and peaceful resolution of disputes.

The official theme of the 81st session is 'Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All', while the UNGA debate is scheduled to take place from September 22 to 26, with a final sitting on September 28. The FO spokesperson said the prime minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and senior officials. "In his UNGA address, the prime minister will outline Pakistan's priorities on sustainable development, climate change, counterterrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reforms and issues confronting the Global South," he said.

The FO spokesperson said the premier would also draw attention to the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine. During the visit, PM Shehbaz will participate in high-level events and hold bilateral meetings with world leaders and the UN Secretary-General to highlight Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter, regional peace and international cooperation, the spokesperson added.

Pakistan has expressed concerns over the situation in Bab al-Mandab, one of the busiest and most contested global maritime chokepoints. The FO spokesperson said the situation is a matter of serious concern, urging restraint and the need for bringing peace to the entire region through dialogue and diplomacy.