ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking on the sidelines of the 80th Annual Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh and addressing global climate challenges.
Meeting with Bangladesh’s chief adviser
After meeting Bangladeshi Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks as “very good,” emphasizing that bilateral relations between the two countries are improving day by day.
He assured that Pakistan will take its friendly relations with Bangladesh “much further” by promoting diplomatic cooperation and boosting bilateral trade. Dr. Yunus, according to Sharif, expressed a strong commitment to deepening mutual ties.
Muslim leaders-Trump joint statement
Shehbaz also confirmed that a joint statement had been issued following a meeting of Muslim leaders with US President Donald Trump. He said further discussions on implementing the agreed points will take place, and he would share more details after his own meeting with Trump.
Answering questions from journalists, Sharif described Pakistan’s recent success as a “fight for Pakistan’s right” and a “great victory by the grace and mercy of Allah Almighty.”
Pakistan’s victory against India praised
The PM praised Pakistan’s armed forces, declaring that “the whole world saw that we defeated India.” He credited Pakistan’s forces for crushing India’s pride with “courage, bravery, and valour.”
Sharif highlighted the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, stating that his command showcased to the world how wars are truly fought. He also applauded the air force and air chief for their “excellent training” that shattered India’s arrogance.
Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech: Call for climate action
Addressing a special environmental meeting convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Brazilian president (host of COP30), Prime Minister Sharif called on the international community to honour its commitments on climate financing.
He stressed that nations hit hardest by climate disasters cannot recover by taking on additional loans. Pakistan, he said, remains committed to being part of the solution for future generations but requires genuine support from the global community.
Pakistan’s climate burden and progress
Sharif reminded world leaders that Pakistan is still reeling from the catastrophic 2022 floods, which caused over $30 billion in damages and displaced millions. This year alone, more than five million people were affected by heavy monsoon rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods, leading to the destruction of 4,100 villages and the loss of over 1,000 lives.
He underlined that Pakistan’s contribution to global emissions is negligible, yet its losses are disproportionately high. Despite this, the country has already met its 2021 target of a 15% unconditional reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Renewable energy and environmental commitments
Currently, renewable energy accounts for more than 32% of Pakistan’s power mix, while solar capacity has increased sevenfold since 2021. In addition, 23,000 hectares of mangroves have been restored. However, Sharif admitted that the National Environmental Plan’s implementation has been hampered by insufficient international financing.
Looking ahead, Pakistan plans to:
- Boost renewable and hydropower to 62% of the energy mix by 2035
- Expand nuclear energy capacity by 1,200MW by 2030
- Transition 30% of transport to clean fuels and establish 3,000 charging stations
- Promote smart agriculture and water conservation
- Plant one billion trees
UN secretary-general’s response
UN chief António Guterres, addressing the same session, reiterated that keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C is still achievable. He highlighted that clean energy is a “guarantee of jobs, growth, and a sustainable future” and urged countries to adopt faster and stronger climate plans by 2035.
Guterres emphasized that developing nations, despite contributing the least to climate change, are suffering the most. He called for debt relief and the creation of new financing mechanisms to support vulnerable countries like Pakistan.
