Vienna, Austria – – Pakistan and Austria have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, including trade, investment, and technology, during a historic visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Vienna. The visit, the first by a Pakistani prime minister to Austria since , signals a renewed commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations.
Prime Minister Sharif and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker held both a restricted meeting and delegation-level talks at the Federal Chancellery. The Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch. Discussions centered on expanding economic collaboration, fostering tourism, and enhancing cooperation in education, information technology, healthcare, and human resource development.
Both leaders emphasized the long-standing friendly relationship between Pakistan and Austria, and expressed a commitment to finalizing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in key areas of cooperation. The focus on MoUs suggests a move towards more formalized and concrete agreements, moving beyond general statements of intent.
Beyond bilateral economic ties, the two leaders also discussed broader regional and global developments, reaffirming the importance of the United Nations in addressing challenges related to peace, security, sustainable development, climate action, and human rights. This shared commitment to multilateralism underscores a common ground on key international issues.
A key component of the visit involved a meeting of chief executive officers (CEOs) from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. The meeting aimed to boost government-to-government (G2G), government-to-business (G2B), and business-to-business (B2B) engagement. Prime Minister Sharif invited Austrian businesses to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in . This forum represents a significant opportunity to further solidify commercial relationships.
The visit also addressed the sensitive issue of illegal immigration. Prime Minister Sharif stated that Pakistan is actively collaborating with European partners, including Austria, France, and Germany, to curb illegal immigration. He assured Austrian officials that Pakistan would meet the demand for skilled labor, adhering to international certification standards. This commitment comes as a response to concerns about the increasing number of Pakistani citizens attempting to enter Europe through irregular channels. A study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) revealed that approximately 24,000 Pakistanis entered EU countries illegally over the past three years.
Prime Minister Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s demographic profile, noting that 60% of the population is young and requires modern training in areas such as IT and artificial intelligence. He also emphasized the potential for collaboration in agriculture, specifically in value-added products like citrus fruits and juices, which could be exported to Austria and the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, speaking at the Pakistan-Austria High-Level Business Roundtable, underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and innovation. He highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing economic reforms and efforts to improve the ease of doing business, signaling a commitment to creating a more attractive investment climate. Dar also emphasized the complementarities between Austria’s technological strengths and Pakistan’s dynamic market and young workforce.
The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Austria, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship. The guard of honour presented to Prime Minister Sharif upon his arrival at the Austrian Chancellery symbolized the warm welcome and the importance placed on strengthening ties.
The renewed focus on bilateral cooperation comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to diversify its economic partnerships and attract foreign investment. Austria, with its strong economy and technological expertise, represents a valuable partner in achieving these goals. The agreements reached during Prime Minister Sharif’s visit are expected to pave the way for increased trade, investment, and collaboration in key sectors, contributing to economic growth and development in both countries.
