VIENNA (MNN); Pakistan and Austria on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Vienna.
Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in the Austrian capital on a two-day official visit, marking the first trip by a Pakistani premier to Austria since 1992, according to the Foreign Office.
The prime minister and Chancellor Stocker held a restricted meeting at the Federal Chancellery, followed by delegation-level talks. The Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch.
According to a statement issued by the Press Information Department (PID), both leaders recalled the longstanding and friendly ties between their countries and agreed to enhance cooperation in economic collaboration, trade and investment, tourism, hospitality, education, information technology, healthcare, and human resource development and mobility.
They also agreed to expedite the finalisation of memoranda of understanding under consideration in these sectors.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments, underscoring the central role of the United Nations in addressing peace and security challenges, promoting sustainable development, climate action, and protecting human rights. They reiterated their shared commitment to multilateralism and appreciated mutual support for each other’s candidatures in international forums.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked Chancellor Stocker for the productive discussions and extended an invitation for him to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Both leaders co-chaired a meeting of chief executive officers from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. It was agreed to expand government-to-government, government-to-business, and business-to-business engagements by effectively utilising existing platforms.
The prime minister invited Austrian companies to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum scheduled to be held in Islamabad in April.
PM Shehbaz and Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Vice President Carmen Goby also witnessed the signing of an MoU between companies from both countries.
In a post on X, the prime minister described the meeting as warm and productive, noting that the visit holds special importance as it comes after more than three decades and coincides with the 70th anniversary of Pakistan–Austria diplomatic relations.
Pakistan Working with European Partners to Curb Illegal Immigration, PM Tells Vienna Business Forum
Separately, addressing the Pakistan–Austria High-Level Business Roundtable in Vienna, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan was working with European partners to jointly curb illegal immigration.
He said Pakistan was firmly opposed to illegal migration and was coordinating with Austria, France, and Germany to bring the issue under control.
The prime minister assured Austria that Pakistan would meet its demand for skilled labour in accordance with required international certifications.
Citing a 2023 study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union, he noted that 24,000 Pakistanis had entered EU countries illegally over the past three years.
Highlighting investment opportunities, PM Shehbaz said both countries were proactively engaged in areas such as mining, minerals, and renewable energy. He emphasised Pakistan’s youthful population, noting that 60 per cent of citizens are young and require modern training in IT, artificial intelligence, and other advanced fields.
He also pointed to Pakistan’s vast agricultural potential, saying Austria could assist with modern technology and value addition, particularly in citrus processing and export of products such as marmalade and juices.
Earlier, Chancellor Stocker welcomed PM Shehbaz at the Chancellery with a guard of honour. The national anthems of both countries were played, and the two leaders introduced their delegations before holding one-on-one and delegation-level talks. The prime minister also signed the guest book.
The visit marks 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Austria.
