World leaders began gathering on Monday for a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session expected to be dominated by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, rising Western recognition of Palestinian statehood and nuclear tensions with Iran, as the organisation marks its 80th anniversary.

“It’s an important session which marks the UN’s 80th anniversary,” said Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, adding that the Pakistani delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will play an active role on regional and global issues.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned, “We are gathering in turbulent, even uncharted, waters,” saying international cooperation was “straining under pressures unseen in our lifetimes.”

More than 150 heads of state or govern

See Full Page