PM Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA Visit: Large Delegation and High Costs Spark Debate
ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK: Preparations are in full swing for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, with arrangements being made for one of the largest delegations Pakistan has sent in recent years.
According to reports, the delegation will consist of around 40 to 50 members, including eight ministers and advisors. To host the team, rooms have been booked in two luxury hotels in New York, where standard rooms cost more than $1,000 per night. Additional suites and meeting rooms are expected to push the bill even higher.
👉 Estimated hotel costs for the six-night stay exceed $300,000 (around Rs. 8.44 million), excluding expenses for meals, security, and other facilities. Over 28 rooms have been reserved in one hotel, while more than 20 have been secured in another.
Although diplomatic staff are exempt from local taxes, the delegation’s size and the associated spending have raised eyebrows back home, especially as Pakistan faces serious economic challenges.
The Prime Minister and senior officials will make a stop in London before reaching New York, while other delegation members will arrive on separate flights.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to meet with representatives of the IMF and World Bank, alongside the Finance Minister, to discuss Pakistan’s financial situation.
The Pakistani Ambassador to the UN will brief media on September 19, providing further details about the visit and its agenda.
