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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Bangladesh&#39;s diplomatic mission on Monday to pay respects following the death of Khaleda Zia, the Bangladeshi opposition leader and two-time former prime minister. According to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, PM Sharif met with Bangladesh&#39;s charge d&#39;affaires and signed a condolence book at the High Commission. He offered prayers for Khaleda Zia, who passed away on December 30, 2025 at the age of 80 years. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/ac62e8ba-d69b-403e-9958-5313d7713156-1.jpg" alt="1.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">PM Sharif met with Bangladesh&#39;s charge d&#39;affaires and signed a condolence book at the High Commission. (PMO)</figcaption></figure> In his condolence message, PM Sharif described the former Bangladesh prime minister as &quot;a visionary leader and an eminent political figure who devoted her life to public service.&quot; He called her a &quot;sincere friend of Pakistan&quot; who left behind &quot;an enduring and inspirational legacy.&quot; Khaleda Zia served as Bangladesh&#39;s prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. As chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, she was one of the country&#39;s most prominent political figures for decades. PM Sharif extended condolences on behalf of the government and the Pakistani people to Khaleda Zia&#39;s family and supporters in Bangladesh. The prime minister was accompanied by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi.

Foreign Affairs

PM Sharif extended condolences on behalf of his government and the Pakistani people to Khaleda Zia's family and supporters in Bangladesh.

Pakistan PM visits Bangladesh mission to offer condolences on passing away of former leader Khaleda Zia

ISLAMABAD: Bahrain has conferred its highest state award on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as both countries move to deepen political, economic, and defense cooperation, according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO).&nbsp;In a meeting in Manama, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa presented Pakistani PM with the Order of Bahrain (First Class), described by the PMO as &ldquo;the highest award Bahrain confers on heads of state and government.&rdquo;&nbsp;The PMO said PM Sharif thanked the King for the warm reception and for what he called Bahrain&rsquo;s &ldquo;longstanding goodwill and friendship toward Pakistan.&rdquo; He also commended &ldquo;His Majesty&rsquo;s leadership in promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to the PMO, King Hamad told Sharif that Bahrain had &ldquo;the privilege of being represented at a legal forum by none other than Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,&rdquo; adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s founding father &ldquo;remained Bahrain&rsquo;s lawyer for a long time.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides reviewed the &ldquo;encouraging momentum&rdquo; in bilateral ties and agreed to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, defense, and cultural fields.&nbsp;The PMO quoted PM Sharif as reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to deepening relations &ldquo;based on shared faith and mutual respect.&rdquo;&nbsp;The prime minister thanked the King for Bahrain&rsquo;s continued support, including the establishment of the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad, inaugurated in September 2025.&nbsp;He also expressed gratitude for Bahrain&rsquo;s solidarity following recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan.&nbsp;On economic ties, the PMO said the prime minister highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s desire to expand trade and investment, noting that bilateral commerce is expected to grow with the upcoming Pakistan&ndash;GCC Free Trade Agreement, now in its final stages.&nbsp;He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), particularly in food security, IT, construction, mining, tourism, and healthcare.&nbsp;The PMO added that PM Sharif expressed appreciation for Bahrain&rsquo;s support to the more than 150,000 Pakistanis living in the Kingdom and thanked King Hamad for pardoning Pakistani prisoners.&nbsp;Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the defense partnership and agreed to continue cooperation in training, logistics, manpower and defense production.&nbsp;They also discussed developments in Gaza, agreeing that peace and stability are &ldquo;long overdue for the people of Gaza,&rdquo; the PMO said.&nbsp;At the end of the meeting, the PMO noted that both sides expressed confidence that the visit would &ldquo;further consolidate the enduring friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reveives guard of honor at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace in Manama on 26 November 2025 (PMO)

In Manama, PM Shehbaz Sharif receives Bahrain’s highest honor, strengthens Pakistan-Bahrain ties, discusses trade, defence, regional issues, and affirms commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, says PMO.

 Bahrain confers top honor on PM Sharif as leaders deepen strategic Pakistan ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Jordan vowed to broaden strategic, economic and political cooperation as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s House on Saturday, marking the start of the Jordanian monarch&rsquo;s two-day official visit.&nbsp;The meeting, held shortly after King Abdullah II received a ceremonial guard of honor, centered on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, health, education, science and technology, and defense. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to deepen long-term strategic ties.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/1b1b81e4-db9c-487a-b705-8897149d46a5-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-15 at 6.04.51 PM.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-15 at 6.04.51 PM.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif receiving King of Jordan Abudllah II upon his arrival in Islamabad. 15 November 2025.-(PMO)</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;The visit of His Majesty is a testament to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Jordan,&rdquo; the prime minister said, welcoming the Jordanian leader and describing the engagement as &ldquo;a vital opportunity to chart an ambitious path forward for our partnership.&rdquo;&nbsp;King Abdullah II praised Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomacy and humanitarian advocacy during and after the Gaza conflict, noting, &ldquo;Jordan deeply values Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent support for our role in promoting regional stability and humanitarian relief.&rdquo; He added that the two nations &ldquo;stand united in their principled position on Gaza.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGnqvHnzR2c?si=0mTkm_P3jlEo4WKi" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;Both leaders underscored a shared stance on the Palestine issue, reiterating their zero-tolerance for any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and agreeing to enhance coordination among the eight Arab-Islamic states working with the United States on the Gaza ceasefire and the Sharm el Sheikh Gaza Peace Plan.&nbsp;The discussions also covered broader regional security, including developments in Afghanistan and India. According to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, King Abdullah II acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;key role in promoting peace and stability in the region.&rdquo;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/fe7f61f6-ea2f-492b-ad30-54ad1e479b30-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-15 at 7.16.40 PM.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-15 at 7.16.40 PM.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">King of Jordan His Majesty Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein receives guard of honor at Prime Minister&#39;s House in Islamabad on 15 November 2025.-(PMO)</figcaption></figure> An MoU in media, culture and education was exchanged in the presence of the two leaders, marking an expansion of institutional cooperation. Later, the prime minister hosted a banquet in honor of the visiting monarch and his delegation.&nbsp;King Abdullah II arrived earlier in the day to a warm reception at Nur Khan Airbase, where President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Sharif, and senior cabinet members received him.&nbsp;The high-level Pakistani delegation present during the talks included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Dr. Musaddiq Malik, and senior government officials.

Islamabad, Amman reaffirm strategic, economic, and humanitarian cooperation in high-level talks, emphasizing regional peace, Gaza support, and bilateral ties as Jordan's King Abdullah II visits Pakistan.

Jordanian King, Pakistani PM deepen strategic cooperation in Islamabad talks 

ISLAMABAD: Jordan King Abdullah II arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss political, economic and cultural cooperation. According to a statement by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO),&nbsp;King Abdullah II was presented a Guard of Honour by a contingent of Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s House. King Abdullah will meet with PM Sharif and discuss matters of mutual interest, the statement said. Later, delegation-level talks, aimed at expanding cooperation between the two countries, will follow, the statement added.&nbsp;The visit reflects the long-standing brotherly ties between Pakistan and Jordan and is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, said the statement.&nbsp;President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Climate Change Musaddiq Malik and Minister of State for Education Wajiha Qamar received the Jordanian monarch and his high-level delegation at Islamabad Airport.&nbsp;The king had lauded last month the Pakistani military&rsquo;s contributions to regional peace and security in a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir.

To discuss matters of mutual interest with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif; delegation-level talks to expand cooperation in several fields will be held as well  

Jordan's King Abdullah arrives in Pakistan to bolster  political, economic ties

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering commitment to peace, while making it clear that the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity remained inviolable. &ldquo;Pakistan seeks peace, just like our Azerbaijani and Turkish brothers, but let there be no doubt: no one can ever be allowed to challenge our sovereignty or undermine our territorial integrity,&rdquo; the prime minister said while addressing Azerbaijan&rsquo;s Victory Day parade in Baku. He said Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan were &ldquo;three brothers whose hearts beat together,&rdquo; standing shoulder to shoulder on an occasion that symbolized unity and mutual trust. &ldquo;What a proud and scintillating sight it is to witness our valiant armed forces marching beside their Azerbaijani and Turkish brothers, as the skies come alive with the roar of the JF-17 Thunder jets, a resounding symbol of our enduring friendship,&rdquo; he added. Recalling the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish contingents in Pakistan&rsquo;s parade in Islamabad earlier this year, the prime minister said such shared moments reflected a deep and historic bond among the three nations. He paid tribute to Azerbaijan&rsquo;s liberation of Karabakh under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, calling it &ldquo;a glorious vindication of a just cause and a beacon of hope for all nations striving for sovereignty and self-determination.&rdquo; The prime minister noted that Pakistan had stood &ldquo;like a rock&rdquo; by Azerbaijan throughout its struggle, just as Azerbaijan and Turkiye stood firmly with Pakistan during the four-day conflict with India earlier this year. He praised the &ldquo;dynamic and fearless command&rdquo; of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Pakistan Armed Forces, noting the precision and professionalism with which they defended the motherland. The prime minister also highlighted Turkiye&rsquo;s development under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing it as &ldquo;one of the most successful models of progress in the modern world.&rdquo; He expressed appreciation for international diplomatic engagement that contributed to regional stability, emphasizing, &ldquo;True victory lies not on the battlefield alone, but in building bridges of peace and understanding.&rdquo; The prime minister extended felicitations from the people of Pakistan to the people of Azerbaijan on the fifth anniversary of their Victory Day, praying for the progress and prosperity of the three brotherly nations. President Ilham Aliyev, in his remarks, thanked Pakistan and Turkiye for their steadfast support during the conflict. He said the joint participation of the armed forces in the parade demonstrated &ldquo;unity, brotherhood and friendship,&rdquo; reaffirming that &ldquo;Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan.&rdquo; President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Azerbaijan on its national triumph, saying the victory marked &ldquo;the beginning of enduring peace in the region&rdquo; and underlined the importance of improved regional connectivity for shared economic growth. Azerbaijan celebrates Victory Day on November 8 to mark its success in the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, resulting in the liberation of territories previously under Armenian occupation for nearly three decades

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistani troops proudly march alongside Azerbaijani and Turkish forces, as JF-17 fighter jets perform fly-past in Baku.

Karabakh Victory Day: Pakistan backs peace, asserts sovereignty non-negotiable

ISLAMABAD: On the anniversary of the massacre of Kashmiris by Indian forces, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement on Thursday, said the events of November 6, 1947, remain a painful memory for Kashmiris decades later.&nbsp; PM Sharif said Kashmiris worldwide commemorate the date each year in condemnation of the &quot;first massive genocide&quot; of Kashmiris by Indian armed forces. &quot;In the history of Jammu and Kashmir, November 6, 1947, is marked as the darkest day and is etched in the minds of Kashmiri people as a fresh wound even after decades,&quot; Sharif said. &quot;Each year, Kashmiris across the world commemorate it in condemnation as the &#39;first massive genocide&#39; of the Kashmiris by brutal Indian armed forces.&quot; The prime minister said Indian forces and extremists killed 237,000 Kashmiris in November 1947 in an attempt to change the demographic and religious makeup of the region&#39;s population. He said efforts to alter the Muslim majority in Kashmir continue today, citing actions taken on August 5, 2019, as an extension of the same pattern. &quot;In November 1947, Indian forces and extremists brutally tortured and massacred thousands (237,000) of Kashmiris in a genocidal attempt to change the demographic and religious majority of the Kashmiri population,&quot; he said. &quot;Such an illegal and unilateral attempt by Indian forces to artificially alter the demographic majority of Muslims in Kashmir continues to date.&quot; The PM paid tribute to Kashmiris who died in the struggle for freedom.&nbsp; &quot;Pakistan pays homage to the thousands of Kashmiri martyrs, especially of November 1947, who sacrificed their lives in this long struggle for freedom,&quot; Sharif said. &quot;In utter denial of United Nations Security Council resolutions and in violation of international law, India has held illegal usurpation and illegitimate occupation of Kashmir.&quot; He said Pakistan and others who support human rights condemn India in the strongest terms, adding that &quot;India is guilty of protracted violation of fundamental human rights, right to self-determination and international law.&quot; The prime minister described the day as representing the courage and determination of people in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to secure their right to freedom. He said generations of Kashmiris have resisted Indian forces. &quot;This day incarnates the exceptional courage and unwavering determination of the people of IIOJK to secure their inalienable right to freedom,&quot; he said. &quot;This day also testifies that generations of Kashmiris valiantly challenged Indian forces and never succumbed to Indian brutalities and atrocities.&quot; PM Sharif said Pakistan&#39;s government and people pay tribute to the sacrifices of Kashmiris and extend support to the people in the disputed region. &quot;Today, the government of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan pay heartfelt tribute to the valued sacrifices of Kashmiri brothers and sisters,&quot; he said. &quot;Pakistan extends unequivocal support to the oppressed people of IIOJK.&quot; He said Pakistan will continue to raise the Kashmir issue on the global diplomatic stage and provide political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris. &quot;Pakistan also reiterates its commitment at the global diplomatic front that Pakistan will continue to ardently raise the issue of Kashmir and will continue to extend its political, diplomatic, and moral support to the people of Kashmir,&quot; he said. The prime minister called on the international community to voice concerns about the continued human rights violations by India in the region. He said Pakistan maintains that the Kashmir dispute must be resolved according to UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiris. &quot;The international community must emphatically voice its concerns about the continued violation of human rights and international law by India in IIOJK,&quot; he said. &quot;At every international diplomatic forum, Pakistan has this principled position that the Kashmir dispute must be resolved in line with UNSC resolutions and as per the just aspirations of Kashmiris.&quot;

The anniversary marks the massacre of Kashmiris by Indian forces on November 6, 1947.

Pakistan PM condemns India on 1947 Jammu massacre anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday emphasized the need for global solidarity and shared progress while outlining Pakistan&rsquo;s economic reform efforts during his address at the Ninth Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) in Riyadh. Sharif opened his remarks by expressing gratitude for the invitation and praised the leadership of Saudi crown prince. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to congratulate my very dear brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for this wonderful event which symbolizes his leadership and his vision to transform societies like he has done in Saudi Arabia,&rdquo; he said. The prime minister highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s economic journey since independence, acknowledging past missteps while reaffirming the country&rsquo;s commitment to change. &ldquo;We have made very honest mistakes and we have learned from our mistakes,&rdquo; Sharif said. &ldquo;Important thing is to learn from your mistakes. That&rsquo;s what we are doing.&rdquo; He noted Pakistan was currently implementing &ldquo;robust changes and deep-rooted reforms,&rdquo; including digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue and strong action against corruption. &ldquo;Rome was not built overnight,&rdquo; he added, emphasizing that structural reforms take time. Sharif also pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s large youth population, nearly 60% of citizens, as both a challenge and an opportunity. &ldquo;We are offering them training, skill training&hellip; for productive employment,&rdquo; he said. However, Sharif said Pakistan continues to face significant climate vulnerability, despite contributing &ldquo;less than a fraction of one percent&rdquo; to global emissions. Recalling the devastating 2022 floods and subsequent disasters, he said the country suffered $130 billion in economic losses. &ldquo;Large swathes of our land was under water. Crops were destroyed. Millions of houses were destroyed,&rdquo; he said. He argued that repeated reliance on loans to rebuild is unsustainable. &ldquo;Loans over loans, loans over loans, your back will break and you will never be able to stand up,&rdquo; Sharif said. &ldquo;This is not acceptable.&rdquo; Calling for collective global support, Sharif said climate-affected nations must not be left to recover alone. &ldquo;If humanity has to move forward, it has to move forward in unison,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Share modern technologies with those countries which can use those technologies and grow their production.&rdquo; Despite the challenges, Sharif closed on a message of resolve. &ldquo;We are resolved by the grace of God,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will turn Pakistan as one of the most going countries through hard work&hellip; and make our country stand in the community of nations like a very honorable country.&rdquo; Iran welcomes Pakistan-Saudi Arabia strategic agreementLate on Tuesday, the head of Iran&rsquo;s top security body, Ali Larijani, said that &ldquo;it was a matter of joy for us&rdquo; that a strategic agreement has been finalized between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, stating that the Muslim community needed this &ldquo;brotherhood.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983247422542233773&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=348a8707f81577bf1f210f674a0762aeef3548a0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1983247422542233773"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;We need action and cooperation, not speeches, to resolve the region&#39;s issues,&rdquo; Iran&#39;s Supreme National Security Council secretary said in a post on X. &nbsp;&ldquo;This agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reflects that very spirit, and we welcome it.&rdquo; Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to launch several strategic and high-impact projects under a new Economic Cooperation Framework aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative, PM Shehbaz Sharif stresses reforms, youth potential, and climate vulnerability, urging global cooperation beyond loans to support Pakistan’s growth.

At Riyadh summit, Pakistan PM presses for shared growth, not more loans

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, said an official statement issued on Monday. The meeting, which comes on the sidelines of the ninth Future Investment Initiative (FII9), took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere, where both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, including trade, investment, and enhanced cooperation across various sectors, according to the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO). The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other senior members of the cabinet. The two sides discussed a range of proposals aimed at taking Pakistan-Saudi Arabia economic cooperation to new heights, while also reviewing the overall regional situation, the statement said. A joint statement is expected soon, outlining key agreements and new initiatives to strengthen bilateral collaboration, it added. PM Sharif is on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the ninth Future Investment Initiative. The visit follows an invitation from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1982812930434281855&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1717%2F&sessionId=585b45e7397e26ce1fae37d51b8d3831be2af4d7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div></div> Earlier, PM Sharif was received at King Khalid International Airport by Riyadh&rsquo;s Deputy Governor, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials. In a post on his X account, PM Sharif later said that it was a pleasure and honor to meet Saudi Crown Prince Salman.&nbsp; &quot;We reaffirmed the enduring strength of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia brotherly bonds and discussed ways to further expand this historic and time-tested partnership in trade, investment, and economic cooperation,&quot; the prime minister said. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Crown Prince for his personal commitment and resolute support in advancing the shared vision for deeper collaboration and prosperity.&nbsp; Future Investment Initiative This year&#39;s FII focuses on &ldquo;The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.&rdquo; The event brings together global leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to discuss opportunities and challenges around innovation, sustainability, economic inclusion, and geopolitical shifts. During his visit, PM Sharif is to meet with Saudi leaders to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and human resources. Discussions will also cover regional and global issues of mutual concern. On the sidelines, the Pakistani PM will meet leaders from other countries and international organizations to highlight the country&#39;s investment potential and commitment to sustainable development under the &ldquo;Think, Exchange, and Act&rdquo; framework.

Both leaders discuss matters of mutual interest, including trade, investment, and enhanced cooperation across various sectors.

PM Sharif meets Saudi Crown Prince ahead of Future Investment Initiative conference

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed all federal and provincial authorities to expedite the repatriation of Afghans illegally residing in Pakistan, citing security concerns and recent cross-border attacks from Afghan soil. According to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Sharif chaired a high-level meeting attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, and provincial representatives to review the situation along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border and ongoing repatriation efforts. &ldquo;Pakistan has helped Afghanistan in every difficult time,&rdquo; the prime minister said. &ldquo;But recent terrorist attacks from Afghan soil and the involvement of Afghans in these attacks are deeply worrying.&rdquo; Sharif noted that Pakistan had &ldquo;suffered thousands of precious lives and billions of dollars in the war on terror,&rdquo; stressing that the country &ldquo;can no longer bear the burden of Afghan refugees.&rdquo; Border clashes and security concernsHostilities erupted on the night of October 11&ndash;12, when Taliban fighters, reportedly supported by an India-backed group, launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistani forces along the border. The clashes intensified late Saturday, resulting in 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred, while around 200 Taliban and allied militants were killed in retaliatory action, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Sharif commended the Pakistan Armed Forces for &ldquo;responding in a befitting manner&rdquo; under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir. Repatriation efforts intensifiedOfficials briefed the meeting that 1,477,592 Afghans had already been repatriated as part of the ongoing phased process. Only Afghans holding valid Pakistani visas will be permitted to remain in the country. Authorities said additional exit points are being opened on the Afghan border to speed up departures and ensure a smoother process. Shelter providers assisting illegal residents are being identified and prosecuted, officials added. The prime minister instructed that &ldquo;the elderly, women, children, and minorities should be treated with respect and dignity during the repatriation process.&rdquo; The forum decided to strictly enforce all recommendations and ensure full coordination among provinces for the early completion of the repatriation campaign.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs high-level meeting on repatriation of Afghan refugees in Islamabad. (PMO)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif orders an accelerated repatriation of illegal Afghan residents amid renewed border tensions and recent militant attacks from Afghan territory, while praising Pakistan’s forces for a robust response under Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership.

Pakistan PM orders swift repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday described the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a &ldquo;historic milestone&rdquo; towards peace in the Middle East, but reiterated that Pakistan&rsquo;s ultimate goal remains the creation of an independent Palestinian state.&nbsp;In a statement shared before departing Sharm el-Sheikh after attending the Gaza Peace Summit, the prime minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s foremost concern was to end the &ldquo;genocidal campaign&rdquo; in Gaza and secure an immediate halt to hostilities.&nbsp;&ldquo;Along with other brotherly nations, we consistently emphasized this priority. Our gratitude to President Trump is anchored in his promise to make it stop &mdash; and delivering on that promise,&rdquo; Sharif said, expressing appreciation for the US leader&rsquo;s role in brokering the ceasefire.&nbsp;<iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977978658171011197&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=f37eec23129ad603d10d8fd9bfb8b78d091d5c7a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As I board the plane to return home after the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el Sheikh, I want to share some reflections on the potentially transformational nature of what took place and why Pakistan has been so deeply involved. The most important priority for Pakistan was the&hellip;&mdash; Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1977978658171011197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote>The premier noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s engagement in the summit reflected its enduring commitment to the Palestinian cause. &ldquo;The Palestinian people&rsquo;s freedom, dignity and prosperity remain a primary concern for Pakistan,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s long-standing policy, Sharif stressed that the establishment of a strong, viable Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital &ldquo;remains the bedrock of Pakistan&rsquo;s Middle East policy and will remain so.&rdquo;&nbsp;PM hails Trump for Gaza peace dealThe remarks come a day after PM Sharif attended the signing of the Gaza ceasefire declaration at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace in Egypt. Addressing the summit, Sharif said peace had been achieved after &ldquo;undying efforts led by President Trump, who is genuinely a man of peace.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Prime Minister recalled that Pakistan had earlier nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the conflict between India and Pakistan and announced his decision to &ldquo;nominate him once again for his extraordinary contribution in stopping the Gaza war.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;He has saved millions of lives. Mr President, I salute you. You are the man this world needed the most at this time,&rdquo; Sharif added.&nbsp;Smiling in response, Trump, sharing the podium with Sharif, added, &ldquo;Wow, I didn&#39;t expect that...that was very beautiful.&rdquo;&nbsp;Earlier, Trump and leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed a declaration guaranteeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Under the agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving captives in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.&nbsp;Trump called it &ldquo;a tremendous day for the Middle East and for the world,&rdquo; expressing confidence that the ceasefire &ldquo;is going to hold up.&rdquo;

Says the Palestinian people’s freedom, dignity, and prosperity remain a primary concern for Pakistan.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif"