PM cancels visit to Kenya

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, has cancelled his first international visit to Kenya where he was scheduled to participate in the Africa Climate Summit.

Diplomatic sources said that the caretaker prime minister’s visit to Kenya was scheduled from 4 to 6 September 2023 at the invitation of President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya. However, due to the worst economic crisis, the prime minister cancelled his maiden visit to any foreign country.

Earlier, the caretaker prime minister was scheduled to articulate Pakistan’s perspective on the global climate crisis and highlight national efforts to rebuild in a climate-resilient manner after last year’s devastating floods at the Summit.

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In Nairobi, the prime minister was scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Africa, including Kenya, and with other high-level dignitaries.

The sources said the event was Africa-specific and the prime minister had accepted the invitation to share experience with foreign dignitaries to be present at the summit.

Moreover, since 1980, no high-level delegation from Pakistan has visited Kenya. “However, the prime minister has decided to cancel the visit after consulting the Foreign Office and his aides,” a senior official said.

The foreign minister and ministers for trade and climate change were to accompany the premier during the visit.

The sources said that the government of Pakistan has now conveyed to the Kenyan government at the diplomatic channels about the cancellation of the prime minister’s visit.

The prime minister, however, will go ahead with his planned visit to the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 22 in New York. He will be the first Pakistani caretaker premier to address the UNGA.

Web Desk