ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan following an invitation from President Ilham Aliyev.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, the prime minister aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and foster win-win partnerships between the two countries.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to hold a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. Additionally, a ministerial delegation from Azerbaijan will engage in discussions with the prime minister, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and energy.
PM Aims to Bolster Pakistan-Azerbaijan Ties
Ahead of his departure, the prime minister took to Twitter, expressing that the visit aligns with the government’s policy of bolstering bilateral ties and establishing mutually beneficial partnerships. He emphasized the importance of expediting the finalization of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and highlighted his intention to engage in significant talks with Azerbaijani leadership regarding cooperation in energy, banking, financial services, and IT sectors.
Leaving for Azerbaijan today at the invitation of H.E. President Ilham Aliyev. The visit is part of our government's policy to strengthen bilateral cooperation & build win-win partnerships. Other than expediting early finalisation of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), I will…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 14, 2023
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further underscored the significance of translating strong political relations into robust trade and investment ties. He stressed that Central Asia holds a pivotal role in Pakistan’s energy security policy and affirmed the government’s commitment to intensify cooperation with Central Asian Republics (CARs) to ensure Pakistan’s energy self-sufficiency.
The prime minister’s visit to Azerbaijan serves as a testament to the government’s efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation and explore new avenues of collaboration, particularly in the vital sectors of trade, energy, and technology.
