Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to depart for Geneva on Thursday to represent Pakistan at the signing ceremony of the much-anticipated Memorandum of Peace. This diplomatic initiative aims to consolidate recent efforts toward regional stability and dialogue.
The ceremony will take place in Burgenstock, a resort near the city of Lucerne, located approximately 100 kilometers from Zurich and 150 kilometers from Geneva. All three delegations will also be staying there.
According to informed sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead the Pakistani delegation at the high-profile event. The ceremony is expected to bring together senior representatives from the United States, Iran, and several international stakeholders who have played a role in facilitating the peace process.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and other senior officials.
Iran will be represented by the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, underscoring Tehran's commitment to the agreement and its implementation framework. The Iranian delegation is expected to hold a series of bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the ceremony to discuss the next phase of diplomatic and technical consultations.
The United States delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, reflecting Washington's strong support for the peace initiative and its continued engagement in regional diplomacy. Senior American officials are also expected to accompany the Vice President during the Geneva meetings.
PM Meets PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday to discuss matters of national importance, the federal budget, development projects, and the prevailing regional situation. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was accompanied by Senator Sherry Rehman and Member of the National Assembly Syed Naveed Qamar during the meeting held at the Prime Minister's House.
The PPP chairman paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for Pakistan's diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting global peace in the context of the evolving situation in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also exchanged views on political developments and issues of mutual interest concerning the country. The meeting reviewed the progress of development projects being implemented by the federal government in Sindh province and discussed measures to further strengthen cooperation between the federation and the provinces.
During the discussion on the federal budget, the Prime Minister underscored that effective coordination and close cooperation between the federal and provincial governments were indispensable for national development and economic progress.
Both leaders agreed that sustained collaboration between federal and provincial institutions was essential for the timely completion of projects of national importance and for ensuring better public services and facilities for citizens. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari thanked the Prime Minister for his support in the process of government formation in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema were also present during the meeting.
PM Highlights Budget Relief for Public
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the government has made every possible effort to provide relief to the public in the budget. Speaking to women parliamentarians of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Islamabad, he said the budget includes measures to make women self-reliant and enhance their inclusion in the national mainstream.
Shehbaz Sharif said empowering Pakistani women to play an active role in national development remains one of the government's top priorities.
Turning to the regional situation, the Prime Minister noted with gratitude that, by the grace of Almighty Allah, the clouds of tension in the region have cleared and efforts to establish peace have yielded positive results. He thanked friendly countries that fully supported these peace efforts.
Shehbaz Sharif said that, from the very beginning of the tensions, the Government of Pakistan, particularly Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and the entire government team, remained sincerely and actively engaged in peace efforts.
He said the dream of economic development for Pakistan and other countries could only be realized through lasting regional and global peace.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the government made every effort in recent months to protect citizens from the impact of global inflation. He said that, by the grace of Allah, unlike some other countries in the region, Pakistan faced neither an economic crisis nor long queues for fuel.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government's effective planning successfully protected the public from undue hardship. He said a historic relief package was delivered to the middle class and economically weaker segments of society with the cooperation of the federal and provincial governments.
He emphasized that the spirit of sacrifice during the recent crisis began with the cabinet and government institutions. He said it is not possible for the people of this country to make sacrifices while the elite continue to enjoy privileges.
The Prime Minister said the government made every effort to ease public difficulties through a 128-billion-rupee subsidy and a large-scale austerity campaign. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the provincial governments for their full cooperation in keeping the national economy stable during recent challenging times.
He also paid rich tribute to the people of Pakistan, noting that public cooperation played a vital role in stabilizing the economy.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government presented a people-friendly budget despite a difficult economic situation, which will accelerate industrial growth and promote an export-oriented economy. He said the focus of next year's budget is on national priorities, particularly increasing water storage capacity and promoting the IT, agriculture, and minerals sectors to provide a strong foundation for the country's economy.
He assured that the benefits of positive economic developments would be transferred directly to the people once regional peace and normalcy are fully restored.
