Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York as Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging dialogue between the United States and Iran.
The anticipated meeting comes as Islamabad pursues a parallel diplomatic channel with Tehran, while Qatar is facilitating contacts between US and Iranian representatives on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
US-Iranian contacts have intensified during the UN gathering, with Qatar involved in shuttle diplomacy between the two sides. Pakistan has also been engaging with Tehran as regional efforts continue to keep diplomatic channels open.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the UN General Assembly has been rescheduled to 12:30am Pakistan time on Friday.
Separately, PM Shehbaz met International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Discussions focused on Pakistan’s economic reform programme and the forthcoming IMF review. The meeting coincided with the start of IMF discussions with Pakistani authorities on the next review under the country’s $7 billion programme.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continuing economic reforms and strengthening fiscal management, while discussions also covered the country’s economic recovery and cooperation with the IMF.
