PM leaves for Davos to attend WEF

In this picture taken on May 24, 2018, Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician and head of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan speaks during an interview with AFP at his home in Islamabad. A former World Cup cricket hero turned politician, Khan has become the main opposition leader in recent years and makes no secret of his ambition to become prime minister. / AFP PHOTO / AAMIR QURESHI / To go with 'PAKISTAN-ELECTION-CANDIDATES-POLITICS,PROFILE'

By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has on Tuesday departed for Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) from January 21 to 23 2020, at the invitation of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is accompanying the premier for the session whose thematic focus is on, “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Forum. In keeping with the significance of this milestone, political leaders, business executives, heads of international organizations and civil society representatives will deliberate on contemporary economic, geopolitical, social and environmental issues. Two key highlights of the visit include the Prime Minister’s “Keynote Address” at the WEF Special Session, and his interaction at the “Pakistan Strategy Dialogue” with CEOs and corporate leaders. On the sidelines, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. These include Prime Minister’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. This would be the third leadership-level interaction between Pakistan and the U.S. since the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in July 2019. Several meetings are also scheduled with a wide range of corporate, business, technology and finance executives, and representatives of international financial institutions. The Prime Minister will also speak to senior international media persons and editors during a session with the Forum’s International Media Council. The Prime Minister will also give interviews to major international media outlets. Throughout his engagements at Davos, the Prime Minister will share Pakistan’s vision and achievements in the areas of economy, peace & stability, trade, business and investment opportunities. Imran Khan will also highlight the current situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and international issues. The premier is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser on Commerce Abdul RazaqDawood, Special Assistant on National Security Mooed Yusuf and Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, while Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Ambassador at large for Investments Ali JehangirSiddiqui will join the delegation in Davos. The prime minister will deliver a keynote address at the WEF special session and also interact with corporate leaders at the Pakistan Strategy Dialogue. On the sidelines, Prime Minister Imran will hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders, the most significant of which will be his meeting with US President Donald Trump. The premier will also hold meetings with a wide range of corporate, technology, finance and business representatives of international financial institutions, Radio Pakistan added. He will address senior international media persons and editors during a session with WEF’s International Media Council, say official sources.