Premier talks IWT, Kashmir, and Gaza with UN chief Gutteres before London visit through Geneva.
Terms Saudi welcome “unprecedented in the past 40 years.”
Announces US willing to invest in trade, IT, minerals, AI, and crypto.
Departing NYC for London through Geneva, to stop on way to meet Nawaz Sharif.
NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that the economy of Pakistan is stabilising at the micro level as inflation has declined and interest rates have been lowered, and appreciated the role played by overseas Pakistanis.
He addressed the media here on Saturday after giving a historic address to the UN General Assembly in New York.
We were seriously challenged a few years ago,” he said. “When we assumed office, inflation stood at 32% and the policy rate was 22.5%.
“In a space of one and a half years, inflation has come down into single digits and the policy rate is at 11%. At the micro level, the economy is stable.
He referred to overseas Pakistanis as “great ambassadors” of the nation, observing that they remitted $38.5 billion back home in the 2024-25 financial year alone.
“Their contribution has been vital for economic stability of Pakistan,” he said.
Referring to his foreign trips, the prime minister labeled his welcome in Saudi Arabia as “unprecedented in the last 40 years” and referred to his meeting with US President Donald Trump as “very encouraging.
To a question, the premier said that the US was ready to invest in Pakistan’s trade, IT, and other sectors.
“During the meeting with President Trump, we discussed the economy, counter-terrorism, minerals, artificial intelligence, IT, and cryptocurrency,” the PM added.
“I also thanked the US president on tariff issues, while minerals pricing and trade agreements between Pakistan and the US will be decided fairly and in mutual interest.”
Shehbaz also pondered over the military successes of Pakistan.
“From May 6 to 10, our forces fought bravely against India in the war. We shot down seven Indian planes and conducted raids at Delhi, Pathankot, and numerous other places,” he mentioned.
He attributed the success to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The Field Marshal directed our troops judiciously. In the morning of May 10, we had a conversation with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and India conveyed to us that they desired a ceasefire. We had already triumphed in the war. We agreed to the ceasefire to prevent further escalation,” the prime minister told the audience.
Reminding the shift in the mood of India, he further stated, “Those who never used to speak to you properly before are now adopting you, which proves the strength and bravery of our military and the success we attained.”
PM talks on IWT, floods with UN’s Guterres
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York. He informed the UN chief that the world organisation should move forward and adopt a more active role in addressing global issues.
The prime minister praised Guterres for his work in promoting peace and stability worldwide. He also thanked the UN for acknowledging Pakistan’s flood relief efforts. “Thousands of people were affected,” he said, “and the UN’s recognition really matters.”
PM Shehbaz reports economy stabilizing at micro level, calls Trump meeting ‘encouraging’
Shehbaz stressed that countries hit hardest by climate change need extra support.
He also brought up the Kashmir matter, pointing to India’s move to maintain the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in suspended animation and called for the UN to take equitable action.
Addressing Gaza, the prime minister demanded an instantaneous ceasefire. He stated help needs to reach the people quickly, and a Palestinian state needs to be built. “Pakistan will keep striving for peace,” he continued. “As a Security Council member, we have to contribute our share.”
Guterres replied by acknowledging Pakistan’s persistent efforts at the UN. He mentioned that the nation has contributed a practical role towards preserving conversation and calmness in international affairs.
Pakistan signifies peace, PM informs UNGA
During his historic address, Shehbaz informed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Pakistan yearned for peace in the region following delivering a “bloody nose” to India during the conflict in May.
We have defeated the war, and now we want to win peace in our region of the world, and this is my most honest and most earnest proposal in front of this gathering of world nations,” the prime minister declared at the forum in August in New York.
Pakistan and India engaged in a four-day fight — their worst in decades — after New Delhi’s unprovoked assault on Islamabad following a terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India blames Pakistan for the attack, a charge that Islamabad has vehemently denied.
“Last year, standing from this very platform, I had cautioned that Pakistan would act — and most forcefully — in case of any foreign aggression. Those utterances have turned out to be true. I wished they would not. But then that is fate,” the prime minister underlined.
In May this year, he recalled, “My country confronted unprovoked aggression from our eastern front. The enemy came shrouded in arrogance; we sent them back in humiliation, delivering a bloody nose”.
“India sought to extract political gains from a human tragedy by spurning my sincere offer of an independent international investigation into the Pahalgam incident,” he said.
Shehbaz leaves for London via Geneva
Following his US tour, PM Shehbaz departed from New York for London with a stopover in Geneva.
The prime minister will make a stopover in Geneva to meet with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, sources said.
He will also apprise the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership about his US tour.
Shehbaz will arrive in London on Saturday and remain there for three days, sources added.
