Islamabad (GNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with María Fernanda Espinosa, a candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, who called on him in Islamabad, and used the occasion to underscore Pakistan’s deep-rooted belief in multilateralism and its enduring regard for the United Nations.
Welcoming Espinosa, the Prime Minister conveyed Pakistan’s firm attachment to the multilateral system and the central place the UN holds in the country’s foreign policy outlook. He expressed hope that whoever assumes leadership of the UN will pursue a balanced approach to advancing the organisation’s three core pillars — guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, faithful implementation of Security Council resolutions, adherence to international law and treaties, and active cooperation among member states to advance global peace and prosperity.
Espinosa thanked the Prime Minister for the meeting and commended Pakistan for its prominent role in recent regional peace efforts and its decades-long active engagement with the United Nations. She had previously visited Pakistan in 2019 during her tenure as President of the UN General Assembly.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the discussions centred on reinforcing the multilateral framework, advancing international peace and security, and making the United Nations more effective in responding to global challenges.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar also received Espinosa separately, reaffirming Pakistan’s unqualified support for a stronger multilateral system and the UN’s indispensable role in upholding international peace, security, and sustainable development.
In his meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister voiced hope that the incoming UN Secretary-General would drive meaningful institutional reform within the organisation and push for the effective implementation of long-pending Security Council resolutions, particularly those relating to Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir. He also restated Pakistan’s commitment to the UN Charter’s founding principles, emphasising respect for international law, global treaties, and the rules-based international order.
Both sides exchanged perspectives on issues of shared concern, including the shifting global landscape and the critical importance of international cooperation in resolving conflicts and addressing humanitarian crises.
The visit takes place amid ongoing conversations in diplomatic circles about the future direction of the UN as the current Secretary-General’s term draws toward its close.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
