CHAKLALA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for New York on Sunday to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting, DawnNews reported.

According to sources, the PM intends to stay overnight in London before leaving for New York.

In a brief talk with media personnel before his departure, premier Sharif said, "Pakistan is a peaceful state and wishes to promote peace throughout the region." He added that Pakistan wished to establish and promote cordial economic and bilateral relations with the world.

The prime minister will represent Pakistan in the 68th session of the UN General Assembly scheduled from September 23 to September 29.

He is expected to present Pakistan's viewpoint with regards to both regional and international issues while addressing the global platform. Pakistan's Foreign Office had announced earlier that the goovernment had prepared its case to raise the issue of US drone strikes within Pakistani territory in the United Nations meeting.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will meet several foreign delegates at the UN summit. He is also expected to meet his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to sources, United States President Barack Obama, due to his busy schedule, will be unable to hold a one on one meeting with the Pakistani prime minister, and the interaction between the two mightbe restricted to a mere handshake.

The two could meet in the latter part of October, when Nawaz Sharif visits the United States for his his first official visit.

This will be the first time that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be addressing the UN General Assembly after coming into power following the 1999 military coup against his government by Pervez Musharaf.