President Zardari Doha visit in November starting November 4, 2025, to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar and engage in Pakistan-Qatar important meetings with global leaders. The three-day event focuses on advancing decent work and safety nets, with Zardari highlighting Pakistan’s initiatives.
This trip underscores Pakistan’s pivotal role in South Asia’s social development agenda. As regional economies grapple with inequality and climate vulnerabilities, President Zardari’s Doha visit in November positions Islamabad as a leader in forging inclusive policies. It bolsters ties with Qatar, a key investor in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure, while amplifying South Asian voices in UN forums. The outcomes could unlock financing for poverty alleviation, benefiting over 2.5 million households through expanded programmes and influencing neighbouring nations’ strategies.
Zardari Attends World Summit for Social Development in Qatar
The Second World Summit for Social Development, convened under the United Nations General Assembly, gathers world leaders in Doha from November 4 to 6, 2025. President Zardari attends World Summit Social Development Qatar to address pressing challenges in social progress. Discussions centre on promoting decent work, employment opportunities, and robust inclusive safety nets.
Pakistan’s delegation, led by Zardari, will emphasise national efforts to combat poverty. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) stands at the core of these initiatives. Launched in 2008, BISP provides cash transfers to vulnerable families, reaching 9 million beneficiaries by 2025. Official data from the BISP website shows disbursements exceeding PKR 3.4 trillion since inception, with recent expansions targeting women-headed households.
Zardari attends World Summit Social Development Qatar to showcase how such programmes build resilience against economic shocks. A statement from the President’s Secretariat notes: “President Zardari will underscore Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive growth and social protection, with the Benazir Income Support Programme at the centre of efforts to reduce poverty and build resilience among vulnerable groups.”
This participation aligns with global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Pakistan ranks 161st on the 2024 Human Development Index, highlighting the urgency of these talks. By engaging at the summit, Zardari attends World Summit Social Development Qatar to advocate for increased international funding, potentially mobilising resources for South Asia’s 1.9 billion people facing similar hurdles.
Pakistan-Qatar Important Meetings During Zardari’s Trip
Beyond the summit sessions, President Zardari’s Doha visit in November features Pakistan-Qatar important meetings Zardari with key figures. On the sidelines, he will confer with Qatar’s leadership, including Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. These discussions aim to deepen bilateral ties in trade, investment, and energy.
Qatar remains Pakistan’s third-largest LNG supplier, with imports valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2024. Recent data from the Pakistan State Oil indicates a 15 per cent volume increase in Qatari shipments. Pakistan-Qatar important meetings Zardari could yield agreements on joint ventures in renewable energy, aligning with Pakistan’s green growth targets.
Zardari will also hold talks with heads of multilateral bodies, such as the United Nations and International Labour Organization. These engagements focus on financing mechanisms for social protection. The President’s Secretariat statement outlines: “The President will underline Pakistan’s intent to work closely with development partners and multilateral institutions to mobilise financing for social protection and green employment through mechanisms such as the SDG Stimulus, debt-for-social or climate swaps, and South-South cooperation under China’s Global Development Initiative.”
Such Pakistan-Qatar important meetings Zardari extend to regional leaders from the Middle East and Central Asia. Outcomes may include memoranda of understanding on skills training, benefiting Pakistan’s 60 million youth population. This diplomatic push during President Zardari’s Doha visit in November enhances Pakistan’s stature as a bridge between South Asia and the Gulf.
Spotlight on the Social Protection and Jobs Compact
A highlight of Zardari attends World Summit Social Development Qatar is Pakistan’s proposal for a Doha-aligned Social Protection and Jobs Compact for 2026-28. This initiative targets informal workers, persons with disabilities, and children, expanding coverage to an additional 5 million individuals.
Official projections from the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation estimate PKR 500 billion in required funding over three years. The compact promotes decent work and green employment, integrating climate-resilient jobs in agriculture and manufacturing. It draws from the Doha Political Declaration, which calls for universal social protection floors.
The President’s Secretariat elaborates: “Pakistan’s readiness to pilot a Doha-aligned Social Protection and Jobs Compact (2026–28) aimed at expanding coverage to informal workers, persons with disabilities and children, while promoting decent work and green employment, will also be highlighted.”
This pilot could serve as a model for South Asian neighbours like India and Bangladesh, where informal sectors dominate 80 per cent of employment. By leading this effort, President Zardari’s Doha visit in November advances regional equity.
Background: Pakistan’s Social Protection Evolution
Pakistan’s journey in social protection traces back to post-independence welfare schemes, but BISP marked a turning point in 2008. Administered by the Benazir Income Support Programme Authority, it uses biometric verification to ensure transparency, disbursing PKR 10,500 quarterly to eligible families as of 2025.
Government data reveals a 25 per cent drop in extreme poverty from 2018 to 2023, partly attributed to BISP. Amid floods and inflation, the programme adapted with emergency cash injections, aiding 2 million flood-affected households in 2022.
Zardari attends World Summit Social Development Qatar builds on this foundation, integrating lessons from global best practices. Previous UN summits, like the 1995 Copenhagen event, shaped Pakistan’s policies, yet implementation gaps persist. This visit addresses those through actionable pacts.
Bilateral ties with Qatar date to 1971, evolving into a strategic partnership. Qatar pledged USD 3 billion in investments during 2022 visits, funding projects in housing and power. Pakistan-Qatar important meetings Zardari will review progress, targeting USD 5 billion by 2030.
What’s Next for President Zardari Doha Visit in November
Following the summit, Pakistan anticipates swift ratification of the Social Protection and Jobs Compact. Implementation begins in Q1 2026, with pilot sites in Punjab and Sindh. Monitoring will involve UN partners, aiming for 90 per cent coverage in target groups by 2028.
Broader impacts include enhanced remittances from Qatari-based Pakistanis, numbering 150,000 workers. President Zardari’s Doha visit in November sets the stage for annual follow-ups, ensuring sustained momentum in social development.
In conclusion, President Zardari’s Doha visit in November reaffirms Pakistan’s resolve for equitable progress, with Zardari attends World Summit Social Development Qatar yielding tangible gains for millions.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 3rd, 2025
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