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VIENNA: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker on Monday at the Hofburg Palace, where the two leaders held talks on bilateral relations and international issues. In an official statement, the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office reported that PM Sharif was received at the Federal Chancellery with a guard of honor ceremony. He also signed the guest book. Bilateral talks PM Sharif and the Austrian Chancellor first met privately. They later led delegation-level discussions. Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. According to the PMO, the talks covered economic cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, education, information technology, health care and workforce mobility. Both sides agreed to expedite the finalization of memoranda of understanding under consideration in these areas. Global issues The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments. They talked about the role of the United Nations in addressing peace and security, sustainable development, climate action and human rights. Both confirmed their support for multilateral cooperation and noted mutual backing for each other&rsquo;s candidatures in international forums. Business forum The two leaders also co-chaired a forum of chief executives from Austrian and Pakistani companies. Participating firms represented renewable energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, construction, information technology, textiles, surgical instruments, leather goods, sports equipment, health care, tourism and agriculture. Officials agreed to expand government-to-government and business-to-business engagement through existing platforms. PM Sharif invited Austrian companies to attend the EU-Pakistan Business Forum scheduled for April in Islamabad. Official invitation PM Sharif thanked Stocker for hosting the meetings and invited the Austrian chancellor to visit Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was presented Guard of Honour upon arrival in Austria's Federal Chancellery, Vienna, 16 February 2026. (PMO)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s prime minister was honored at the Austrian Chancellery in Vienna, where national anthems were played, and delegations met for talks during his two-day official visit to Austria.

Pakistan PM meets Austrian Chancellor for bilateral talks in Vienna

Saqib Tanveer

VIENNA: Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make a historic visit to Austria starting Sunday, the first by a Pakistani premier in 34 years since the last visit in 1992, the country&rsquo;s ambassador said. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to Austria Mohammad Kamran Akhtar said the visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1956. &quot;There has been a sort of communication gap between Pakistan and one of the most important countries of European Union,&quot; Akhtar said. &quot;It might not be a large country, but it is very significant in terms of being the capital of international diplomacy, multilateralism and international negotiations.&quot; Bilateral meetings and economic engagement PM Sharif will meet the Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker for private talks followed by bilateral delegation-level meetings covering issues on the agenda between the two countries, according to the ambassador. The schedule includes a CEO forum co-chaired by PM Sharif and Stocker, bringing together leadership from Pakistani and Austrian companies already doing business in Pakistan. &quot;The Chancellor of Austria, since he will be co-chairing, that sends a very strong signal in Austria&#39;s interest in increasing its economic collaboration with Pakistan,&quot; the ambassador said. In the afternoon, PM Sharif will chair a larger business forum before proceeding to UN premises in Vienna, where he will deliver a keynote address at an event on sustainable development. UN agencies and development programs Vienna hosts three UN agencies critical to Pakistan: the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Kamran Akhtar said Pakistan maintains active country programs with all three agencies, benefiting from IAEA technical cooperation in peaceful nuclear power generation, cancer diagnostic and treatment, and development of climate-resistant crop varieties. He stated that UNIDO assists Pakistan with industrial development and the transition to low-carbon energy pathways, while&nbsp;UNODC provides capacity building and technical assistance for addressing drug-related challenges from Afghanistan. The ambassador revealed that during the current visit, Pakistan will sign a new country program with UNODC covering 2026 to 2030. Education opportunities for Pakistani students On education cooperation, the ambassador said approximately 400 Pakistani PhD students have completed their studies in Austria since the Higher Education Commission launched its program in 2012. Currently, around 500 Pakistani students study at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels across Austrian universities, primarily in science, technology and engineering fields. The Pak-Austria Fachhochschule in Haripur was established in collaboration with 11 Austrian tertiary institutions and five Chinese institutions. A new branch is planned for Sialkot. The ambassador said Austrian public universities charge nominal fees, making study affordable for Pakistani students who achieve C1-level proficiency in German. He added that Austria faces an acute shortage of trained manpower, and Pakistani students who perform well can secure employment in the Austrian economy.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Austria Muhammad Kamran Akhtar speaking to Pakistan TV Digital. 

The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations established in 1956. PM Sharif will meet Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker for bilateral talks and chair business forums.

Articles tagged with "Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker"

Pakistan PM meets Austrian Chancellor for bilateral talks in Vienna

Pakistan PM to visit Austria for first time in 34 years