World Faces ‘Polycrisis’ – Sharif Urges Global Cooperation
Islamabad – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that the world is confronting a “polycrisis,” a convergence of geopolitical hostility, climate stress, and technological disruption that threatens global stability. He emphasized the urgent demand for dialogue, diplomacy, and multilateralism to address these intertwined challenges.
A Convergence of Global Challenges
Addressing the United Nations’ Special Event on Sustainable Development, Pathway for Global Peace and Prosperity in Vienna on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Prime Minister Sharif stated that the “defining danger of our time is not any single threat, but the combination of many.” Pakistan Television reported on his address.
Sharif highlighted that poverty, debt distress, mass displacement, and unresolved political conflicts are intensifying global instability. He argued that a renewed global commitment to sustainable and inclusive development is the “only viable pathway to durable peace and shared prosperity.”
The Disproportionate Burden on Developing Nations
The Prime Minister underscored that developing countries, despite contributing the least to global emissions, bear the heaviest cost of climate change, economic volatility, and debt distress. Pakistan, he noted, contributes less than 1% of global emissions yet remains highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. He recalled the devastating floods of 2022, which caused over 1,700 deaths, widespread infrastructure damage, and the displacement of millions, and noted that subsequent floods have exacerbated these challenges.
“These disasters erode human security at its core,” Sharif stated, stressing that sustainable development must be anchored in equity, justice, and fair play.
Pakistan’s Commitment to Sustainable Development
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stating that the government has integrated them into national development planning. Key areas of focus include human development, education, healthcare, food security, and social protection, with a particular emphasis on women and youth.
He also highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s large youth population, emphasizing the need for investment in skills development, digital transformation, and institutional strengthening to harness their capabilities.
Call for UN Reform and International Cooperation
Sharif stressed the importance of reinforcing and reforming the United Nations system to enable it to effectively serve as a pillar of global peace and cooperation. He highlighted Vienna’s role as a host city for key UN institutions dealing with counter-terrorism, crime prevention, industrial development, and the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and outer space.
He also warned that unaddressed digital divides will soon become entrenched development divides, urging the international community to address the root causes of global challenges rather than merely managing their consequences.
Recent Agreements and Meetings
During his visit, Prime Minister Sharif attended the signing of the UNIDO Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) Pakistan 2025–2030, the UNODC Country Programme Pakistan, and a cooperation agreement between the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) and the IAEA. He also met with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the Vienna International Centre.
Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026