By: Vibhuti Pathak
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to participate in a special session on the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh scheduled for April 28 and 29. Sharif accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will be travelling to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab, as mentioned by Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
The special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ‘Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development’ where all top Arab and European diplomats are expected to arrive. He will be especially talking about Gaza and the economic summit.
According to the foreign office spokesperson, the high-level participation in the WEF would provide an opportunity to highlight Pakistan’s priorities in global health architecture, inclusive growth, regional collaboration and balance between growth and energy consumption, besides interacting with the participating world leaders and heads of international organisations.
A Gaza-focused session in Riyadh on Monday is set to feature newly appointed Palestinian PM Mohammad Mustafa, Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouly and Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations aid coordinator for the Gaza Strip.
Sharif will also attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference under the slogan of ‘Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development’ on May 4-5 in Gambia. The Foreign Minister Dar’s participation in the preparatory meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers on May 2-3.
The FO spokesperson said the PM would express Pakistan’s grave concern on the genocide in Gaza, advocate for their right to self-determination, and the imperative of solidarity, besides deliberating on Islamophobia, terrorism, and the challenges faced by the world, particularly the Muslim world. She added that the prime minister would also hold bilateral meetings with the Muslim world leaders.
