Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from the 28th to the 29th of this month. Accompanying him will be Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the Foreign Office Spokesperson, announced during her weekly media briefing in Islamabad today that the invitations were extended by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia and Professor Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
The spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan sees this high-level participation as a significant opportunity to highlight its priorities, focusing on global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalizing regional collaboration, and the importance of balancing growth with energy consumption. Additionally, on the sidelines of the main event, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will engage in bilateral meetings with various world leaders, heads of international organizations, and other prominent figures attending the forum.
Moreover, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will also attend the 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul, Gambia, on the 4th and 5th of the following month. The spokesperson noted that this summit holds particular importance due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stressing the need for OIC leaders to address the situation collectively and express a unified stance on the Palestinian issue. During the summit, the Prime Minister will address Pakistan’s concerns regarding the Gaza crisis, the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, solidarity within the Muslim Ummah, rising Islamophobia, terrorism, and other global challenges. Additionally, bilateral meetings with Islamic leaders are scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the summit.
Preceding the summit, the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers will convene on the 2nd and 3rd of the following month, which will be attended by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Alongside the main meeting, the Foreign Minister is expected to hold discussions with counterparts from other OIC member countries.
