Vienna (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Vienna on Sunday to begin a two-day official visit to Austria, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and engage with key international organizations, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
“The prime minister and the Pakistani delegation were warmly welcomed at Vienna International Airport, where a contingent of the Austrian Armed Forces presented a ceremonial salute,” the PMO said.
On X, the prime minister described Vienna as a “city of history, culture, and global diplomacy,” and said he looked forward to meeting Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker to further enhance the friendship between the two countries. He highlighted trade, investment, and economic cooperation as key areas of discussion.
During his visit, PM Shehbaz will also meet leaders of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the UN Industrial Development Organization. These engagements are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, counter-narcotics and crime prevention, and sustainable industrial development, the prime minister noted.
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The Foreign Office stated that the visit, scheduled from February 15 to 16, 2026, comes at the invitation of Chancellor Stocker. PM Shehbaz is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch.
As part of the visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral talks with Chancellor Stocker to review the full spectrum of Pakistan–Austria relations, chair a session of the Pakistan–Austria Business Forum organized by the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO), and visit key multilateral organizations headquartered in Vienna.
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The Foreign Office highlighted that Pakistan and Austria share a longstanding relationship rooted in dialogue, cooperation, multilateralism, and respect for international law. This visit marks the first by a Pakistani prime minister to Austria in more than three decades, following the last trip by then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992.
