Shehbaz Sharif urges global focus on humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Islamabad, October 16, 2024 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on the international community to prioritize humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, emphasizing the need to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed pride in hosting the prestigious gathering. He highlighted that SCO member states represent 40% of the world’s population and stressed the importance of regional cooperation and connectivity for sustainable development.

Sharif underscored the need for collective efforts to achieve economic growth, stability, and prosperity, stating that improving the quality of life for citizens is a shared responsibility. He expressed confidence that the summit’s discussions would yield long-lasting, impactful outcomes, especially in the face of global changes and evolving challenges, which require collective action.

He also noted that the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen ties with member countries, emphasizing the importance of harnessing collective wisdom to move forward.

Highlighting Pakistan’s desire for regional peace and stability, the Prime Minister called for increased efforts to boost trade connectivity. He stressed the need to focus on sectors such as tourism, infrastructure development, and green belts, while also addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change. According to Sharif, poverty is not only an economic issue but a moral one, and economic stability is essential for a shared future. He further stressed the importance of collective action to tackle natural disasters.