PM Shehbaz met Trump at reception banquet on UNGA sidelines

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met United States President Donald Trump during the reception banquet hosted by the latter in honour of world leaders, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last month, according to details released by the Press Information Department (PID) on Thursday.

The PID shared photographs, released by the White House, of the two leaders standing together, smiling and shaking hands.

No further details about the interaction were provided.

The UNGA debate ran from Sept 22 to 26, with a final sitting on Sept 28. PM Shehbaz addressed the session on Sept 25 and was also mentioned by US President Donald Trump in his speech, who called him a “terrific man”. The premier also held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA with world leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The premier’s official visit to New York, him meeting Trump and his participation in the UNGA debate came as Pakistan plays the role of a mediator for de-escalation between the US and Iran.

Earlier this year, PM Shehbaz and Trump were also together at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, which was headed by the US president in Washington, DC.

The premier had also met with Trump, alongside other world leaders, at a ceremony following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt in October 2025.