Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, extending his congratulations for Erdogan’s passionate address at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which focused on the Palestinian crisis.
“The way the Turkish President addressed the issue resonated deeply with everyone in the Assembly hall,” he told reporters after their meeting, held on the sidelines of the Assembly’s 79th session.
During their discussions, the two leaders explored ways to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation across various fields. They agreed to boost collaboration, particularly in the economic and defense sectors, and to expedite efforts for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to ensure peace in the region and facilitate humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the strong brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkey, mentioning that President Erdogan is expected to visit Pakistan soon.
In his heartfelt address, Erdogan lamented that the values upheld by the United Nations and the Western world are eroding in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict. He called for an “alliance of humanity” to put an end to Israel’s aggression and strongly criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, as well as the support it receives from Western nations.
“Alongside the children in Gaza, the United Nations system is also dying; the truth is fading, the values the West claims to defend are dying, and the hopes for a fairer world are slowly disappearing,” Erdogan stated.
In response to a question, PM Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in its final stages of approval, as Pakistan has accepted all the conditions, some of which were quite challenging. He expressed gratitude to China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, noting that their support was crucial for achieving this progress.
The Prime Minister is set to meet with IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva soon and reiterated that his government is committed to tackling the economic challenges facing the country. He prayed for divine assistance in serving the people of Pakistan.
