Daily Times

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha on an official visit from Oct. 30-31 to discuss bilateral ties with a special focus on trade and investment, the premier’s office said on Wednesday.

“During this visit, I look forward to productive excahnge of views with the Qatari leadership to further enhance our brotherly relations,” Sharif said on X after arriving in Doha. “I will also inaugurate a special exhibition at Qatar Museum highlighting the cultural heritage of Pakistan.” The foreign office said in a statement Sharif would hold bilateral meetings with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

“In these meetings, the two sides will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new of cooperation especially in trade and investment.”

Delegations from the Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar Businessmen Association would also call on Sharif to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan, the foreign office added.

Sharif will also inaugurate the cultural exhibition, “Manzar: Art and Architecture in Pakistan from 1940 to Present,” on October 31.

“The exhibition will showcase Pakistan’s rich cultural and architectural heritage and underline deep people-to-people linkages between Pakistan and Qatar,” the foreign office said.

Earlier, Pakistan and Vietnam reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing tourism, trade, and investment ties during a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Eighth Future Investment Initiative Conference, where they underscored the mutual benefits of bolstering bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement following the meeting, highlighting PM Shehbaz’s enthusiasm for deepening cooperation with Vietnam. Recognising the shared potential in trade and investment, he proposed delegations from both countries to explore business opportunities and strengthen economic ties.

He praised Vietnam’s dynamic role within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and sought Vietnam’s support in advancing Pakistan’s bid for full dialogue partner status within ASEAN.

PM Shehbaz also extended an invitation for PM Pham to visit Pakistan, marking a step toward greater diplomatic and economic collaboration between the two nations.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel on Wednesday for obstructing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) operations in the occupied Palestinian Territory, calling it a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the UN Charter.”