Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to travel to Saudi Arabia today (Sunday) to participate in the second Joint Arab-Islamic Summit taking place in Riyadh on November 11.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has announced that on November 10, prior to the summit, there will be a preparatory session for the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM). Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar is already in Saudi Arabia, having departed on Saturday, and will also join the Prime Minister’s delegation for the summit.
The gathering, initiated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims to address critical issues in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestine.
This summit is a follow-up to the exceptional Joint Arab-Islamic Summit held on November 11, 2023, which focused on the situation in Gaza and other occupied territories. Leaders and senior officials from the Arab League and OIC member countries are expected to attend.
During the summit, Prime Minister Sharif will affirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. He plans to advocate for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza, call for an urgent ceasefire, and stress the need for international protection for Palestinians. He will also push for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with its capital in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, based on the borders from June 4, 1967.
In addition, the Prime Minister is anticipated to engage in bilateral discussions with leaders from other Arab League and OIC member states during the summit.
