Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has embarked on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye to discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security this week. A foreign office statement said Sharif will also participate in the Fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye.
Sharif's visit comes at a time when Pakistan is engaged in high-level contacts to bring Iran and the US back to the negotiating table, with the two sides likely to meet again in Islamabad for a second round of talks by next week.
Sharif's visits from April 15–18 to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will be in the bilateral context, where the Prime Minister will meet the leadership from the respective countries to discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security, the Foreign Office said.
The prime minister will also visit Turkey to participate in the Fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where Sharif will participate in the Leaders’ Panel, alongside other world leaders, to present Pakistan’s perspective at the Forum. On the sidelines of the Forum, the Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other key world leaders.
Sharif will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi.
Saudi Arabia's additional $3 bn support to PakistanSaudi Arabia has pledged an additional $3 billion in financial assistance to Pakistan, helping it cover a significant funding shortfall linked to an upcoming debt repayment to the United Arab Emirates. The extra funding for Pakistan comes on top of Riyadh extending the rollover arrangement for an additional $5 billion deposit for a longer period, Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said. |
