Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed on Sunday for Vienna, Austria, on a two-day official visit that marks the first time in more than three decades that a Pakistani premier has visited the European nation, government officials confirmed.
The two-day visit, running Feb 15–16, comes at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker and underscores renewed focus on expanding bilateral cooperation. Sharif will lead a high-level delegation that includes senior federal ministers.
Pakistan and Austria established diplomatic relations 70 years ago, but foreign office officials noted that no Pakistani prime minister has made an official visit to Vienna since the trip by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992.
During his stay, Sharif is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Austrian counterpart on a range of issues, including political engagement, economic cooperation, trade and cultural ties. The discussions aim to explore avenues for strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.
The prime minister is also expected to chair the Pakistan–Austria Business Forum, organized by the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO), where business leaders and officials from both sides will explore opportunities to boost trade and investment ties. Sharif’s itinerary includes visits to key multilateral organizations based in Vienna.
According to Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the visit is expected to open “new dimensions” in Pakistan-Austria relations and deepen cooperation in areas such as education, culture, and economic engagement.