ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The size of the delegation accompanying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his visit to the United States has been reduced as part of an austerity drive.
According to media reports, the delegation accompanying the Prime Minister will include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Tariq Fatemi.
Under the austerity measures, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting will not be part of the delegation.
Reports stated that the Federal Information Minister will remain in Islamabad due to the prevailing political situation, and the Prime Minister has issued directives regarding austerity to the relevant officials in the US.
PM Shehbaz arrives in London ahead of US visit
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in London for a brief stopover before heading on an official visit to the United States.
The premier was received by Pakistan’s High Commissioner Tipu Usman and diplomatic staff at Luton Airport in London.
Prime Minister Sharif will stay in London for a few days before leaving for the United States, where he will address the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week.
Addressing a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider 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 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 address, the Prime Minister will highlight Pakistan’s priorities related to “sustainable development, climate change, counter-terrorism, Islamophobia, global economic challenges, UN reforms and issues facing the global south.”
According to the FO spokesperson, the premier will also draw the attention of the international community to the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine.
During his visit to the US, the Prime Minister will attend high-level events and will also hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders and the UN Secretary-General, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter, regional peace, and international cooperation, the spokesperson added.
