UN Chief António Guterres to Visit Pakistan From October 6 to 8
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between Islamabad and the UN and discussing major regional and international developments.
Guterres will visit Pakistan from October 6 to 8, with a series of high-level political, security and institutional engagements scheduled during his stay.
The UN chief will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
He will also hold talks with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The discussions are expected to provide an opportunity for Pakistan and the United Nations to exchange views on regional and international developments while reviewing Islamabad’s longstanding cooperation with the global body.
Guterres will also visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) during his trip.
Another key engagement will take place at the National Disaster Management Authority headquarters, where the secretary-general will receive a briefing on Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and early-warning capabilities.
The visit will highlight Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen multilateralism, international peace and security as well as improvements in disaster preparedness and early-warning systems.
Pakistan has repeatedly stressed its support for a multilateral international system with the United Nations at its centre and its commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.
The trip comes shortly after Pakistan’s senior leadership met Guterres during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
Ishaq Dar extended an invitation to the UN chief during those diplomatic engagements, which Guterres accepted.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where the two discussed regional and international developments, including tensions in the Middle East.
Guterres praised Pakistan’s engagement at the United Nations and its contribution to international peace and security, including its longstanding participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
The October visit will take place during the final months of Guterres’ tenure as UN secretary-general, which is due to conclude on December 31, 2026.
Guterres first visited Pakistan as UN secretary-general in February 2020. He returned in September 2022 following catastrophic floods, when he called for greater international support for communities affected by the climate disaster.
His latest visit is expected to focus more broadly on diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, regional security and Pakistan’s engagement with the United Nations.
