Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal cabinet has authorised him to join the US-led Board of Peace, expressing hope that the initiative could help bring lasting peace to Gaza and ensure the protection of the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.

Speaking to reporters outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, Sharif said he was invited by US President Donald Trump to participate in discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he accepted the offer to join the Board of Peace.

“Pakistan supports this initiative in the hope that Gaza will be rebuilt and that Palestinians will receive their legitimate rights with dignity and respect,” Sharif said. “We hope there will be peace in Gaza, and that the people there will receive the respect they deserve.”

He described his interactions on the sidelines of the Davos forum as “very good” and productive, highlighting discussions on global peace efforts, economic cooperation, and investment opportunities.

Before addressing the media, Sharif met with a delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) UK chapter, led by party president Ahsan Dar and Young Wing president Khurram Butt, at the High Commission.

Sharif also spoke positively about his meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, without disclosing details, and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to engaging constructively with the IMF and other global financial institutions to stabilise Pakistan’s struggling economy.

Currently, Pakistan is under its 24th IMF program, including an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan aimed at economic stabilisation and managing debt vulnerabilities. As of January 2026, Pakistan’s outstanding IMF credit stands at over $7.35 billion, while its total external debt is USD 134.48 billion as of September 2025.