Shehbaz says India threatened to weaponise waters of Indus river system Reaffirms Pakistan’s support for IAEA in promoting responsible use of nuclear technology .
Vienna – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasised the need for sustainable and inclusive development to achieving lasting peace amidst the crises of the times. He was addressing the UN event titled Sustainable Development, the Path to Global Peace and Prosperity in Vienna.
The Prime Minister noted that development cannot be called sustainable, if it excludes millions from the promise of a better life. He underscored the importance of pursuing policies that promote inclusion, strengthen social protection and ensure equitable distribution of resources.
He mentioned the challenge posed by Climate Change to developing countries including Pakistan. He said Pakistan contributes less than one percent of global emissions, yet it bears the brunt of cascading impact.
Alluding to the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan in recent years, the Prime Minister said these disasters erode human security. He said development must be anchored in equity, justice and fair play, emphasizing that without these principles, global peace will remain elusive forever.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan remains firmly committed to the ideals of sustainable development.
He said Pakistan has integrated the sustainable development goals into its national development planning, recognizing that economic growth must be inclusive, resilient and responsible. He said our focus is on human development, education, healthcare, food security and social protection. He said we are strengthening institutions, promoting digital transformation and expanding regional connectivity to foster shared prosperity.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has consistently advocated dialogue, diplomacy and multilateralism as the only means to resolve disputes and prevent conflicts. Referring to Pakistan-India conflict of last year, he regretted that our neighbour threatened to weaponise the waters of Indus river system that sustains the lives and livelihoods of Pakistan’s 240 million people. The PM said the UN must be reinforced, properly resourced and reformed so that it can continue to serve as the central pillar of global cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN charter, recognising the indispensable role of the UN in global peace, security, sustainable development and promotion of human rights.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan remains committed to working with all partners for a future where peace, prosperity and sustainable development go hand in hand.
Pakistan and the United Nations agencies also signed three documents of cooperation.
These included United Nations Industrial Development Organization Country Partnership Program for Pakistan 2025-2030; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Program for Pakistan and one between the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Also, PM Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong support for the role of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology in areas such as cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, nuclear power generation and industrial applications.
He was talking to Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi at Vienna International Centre (VIC), the seat of the UN offices in Vienna, a press release issued by the PM House Media Wing on Tuesday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch were also present during the meeting.
During the meeting, the prime minister praised the strong partnership between Pakistan and the IAEA, while observing that Pakistan was not only a beneficiary of the IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme but was also contributing to the work of the IAEA through provision of its experts and conducting international trainings for IAEA Member States.
Director General Grossi acknowledged Pakistan’s experience and expertise in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and the high quality of its engineers, scientists and technicians.
Among other things, he appreciated Pakistan’s contribution to the work of the IAEA in the areas of nuclear safety and security. He further added that Pakistan was well placed to help other Member States of the IAEA in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology. He looked forward to Pakistan’s active participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit being organized by France in March 2026.
Later an agreement was signed on the designation of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, as an IAEA Collaborating Centre.
Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and DG Grossi signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan and the IAEA respectively.
Pakistan, Austria vow to further strengthen cooperation
Pakistan and Austria have reiterated the commitment to work towards further strengthening bilateral relations in such fields as economic cooperation, trade and investment.
This was stated in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Austria after an official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Vienna.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held one-on-one meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.
Both sides took stock of developments at the global level and agreed on the central role of the United Nations in addressing the challenges of peace and security, sustainable development and promotion of human rights.
They expressed their unwavering support for multilateralism, rule-based global order, underpinned by the principles and purposes of Charter of the United Nations and to further enhance their collaboration for strengthening the UN system.
Both the leaders noted the potential between the two countries to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, tourism, hospitality, education, IT, healthcare and human resource development and mobility.
In this regard they agreed to work for the early finalization of various Memoranda of Understanding under consideration related to these areas.
In addition to an one-on-one meeting between the two leaders and delegation-level talks, the Federal Chancellor of Austria and the Prime Minister of Pakistan also co-chaired a forum of leading Austrian and Pakistani companies.
It was agreed to further enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation through existing and future frameworks, building on the established mechanisms of dialogue.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan invited the Austrian businesses and companies to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum to be held in Islamabad in April 2026.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker to visit Pakistan in the near future.
