LONDON:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the recent meeting of Muslim and Arab leaders with US President Donald Trump is likely to yield a positive outcome for Gaza, which has been facing Israel’s genocidal aggression for the last two years.
“The meeting of Arab-Islamic countries chaired by US President Donald Trump will produce encouraging results on the issue of Gaza,” Shehbaz said on Sunday, while talking to overseas Pakistanis at Pakistan High Commission in London.
The PM arrived in the UK after addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Earlier, Shehbaz and leaders from Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia met with Trump in New York on September 24.
The PM and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also held a meeting with Trump in White House on September 25. Shehbaz said he had a constructive and productive meeting with President Trump. The meeting will be a stepping stone for further better relations with the United States, he said.
The prime minister noted that as many as 64,000 people including women, children, youth and elderly have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
He said at the UNGA, he highlighted the issues of Kashmir and Palestine, adding the people of Gaza are facing an oppression and brutality which is unprecedented in modern history.
The PM said in his speech he represented the people of Pakistan, argued their case and reflected their sentiments. Kashmir, he said, will also gain its freedom one day.
Shehbaz Sharif claimed that Pakistan is making rapid progress on the economic, foreign relations and military fronts while the economy has achieved stability and now the country will move towards economic growth and progress.
He said in the past Pakistan’s economy went through a difficult phase but due to sincerity, hard work and team effort of his government the country had been put on the right track again.
“We can overcome every difficulty and make progress with cooperation, consultations, sincerity, persistent efforts and unity of thought and action,” the PM said, adding that Pakistan has gained dignity and respect among the comity of nations.
He recalled that Pakistan won the recent war against India and defeated its enemy after which the respect for Pakistan had enhanced in the world. He said overseas Pakistanis are a precious asset and great ambassadors of Pakistan, who are serving their country with vitality.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also talked with reference to the Muslim leaders meeting with Trump.
He noted that after the initial meeting, subsequent meetings were continuing and would produce a positive outcome on the issue of Gaza. “These outcomes will be shared with the nation,” he said.
Dar said at the UNGA session, the PM effectively represented Pakistan. Pakistani leadership represented the nation on all forums in about two dozen meetings during the UNGA session.
“Pakistani delegation raised the issues of Kashmir, Palestine and Gaza before the international community,” he noted. He said when the prime minister assumed responsibility in the interim tenure in April 2022, he saved Pakistan from economic default.
“Pakistan’s economy which was made 24th biggest by Nawaz Sharif later on plummeted to 47 due to mismanagement of the next four years, he observed.
“Now the conditions have improved, economic stability is attained, interest rate is down to 11 percent from high of 22% and inflation has decreased to five percent from 30%.”
He said as Pakistan would make progress and gain development, it would end poverty, lead to progress and increase the per capita income of people, he added.
He said the government was making an effort to take Pakistan forward, adding progress made by Pakistan was visible and recognised by the world.
Overseas Pakistanis appreciated the PM’s address at the 80th session of the UNGA and paid tribute to him for presenting Pakistan’s point of view in an effective manner. They commended the prime minister for raising his voice on the Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine disputes.
