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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPM Shehbaz and Stocker held a \u201crestricted meeting\u201d at the Federal Chancellery today, which was followed by delegation-level talks, a press release<\/a> issued by PID said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The delegation talks included Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement read: \u201cBoth leaders recalled the friendly and historic ties between the two countries and committed to work together more closely to further strengthen the bilateral relationship in diverse fields, including economic cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, hospitality, education, IT, healthcare and human resource development and mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo this end, they agreed to work for the early finalisation of MoUs (memoranda of understanding) under consideration related to these areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier and the chancellor also \u201cexchanged views on regional and global developments, and agreed on the central role of the United Nations in addressing the challenges of peace and security, peaceful settlement of disputes, sustainable development, climate action and protection and promotion of human rights\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey expressed their shared commitment to multilateralism and appreciated mutual support for each other\u2019s candidacies, while working together with the international community for strengthening the UN system,\u201d PID added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz thanked Stocker for the \u201cmeaningful and productive meetings\u201d during the visit, which he said would lend fresh impetus to bilateral ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also extended an invitation to the chancellor to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Austria\u2019s Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker in a meeting with CEOs of Austrian and Pakistani businesses, in Vienna on Feb 16, 2026. \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the PID statement, the premier and the chancellor co-chaired a meeting of chief executive officers (CEOs) from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies working in a wide range of areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was agreed to expand G2G (government to government), G2B (government to business) and B2B (business to business) engagements between the two countries through the effective utilisation of the existing platforms,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prime minister invited the Austrian businesses and companies to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum to be held in Islamabad in April this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz and Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Vice President Carmen Goby also witnessed the signing ceremony of an MoU between Pakistani and Austrian companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a post on X later, PM Shehbaz stressed that his visit \u201ccarries special significance as we are having a high-level visit after more than three decades\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan\u2013Austria diplomatic relations,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He termed the meeting with Stocker \u201cmost warm and productive\u201d, reiterating that the two reaffirmed their countries\u2019 resolve to work closely in diverse fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Separately, PM Shehbaz stated that Pakistan was working with European partners to \u201cjointly ban\u201d illegal immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addressing the Pakistan\u2013Austria High-Level Business Roundtable in Vienna, he affirmed Pakistan was \u201cabsolutely\u201d against illegal immigration and was \u201cworking with our European friends \u2014 Austria, France, and Germany \u2014 to jointly ban this illegal immigration [and bring it] to a grinding halt\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He assured Austria that Pakistan would fulfil its \u201cdemand for skilled labour\u201d as per the international certification required by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every year, many young Pakistanis leave the country via illegal routes in hopes of better employment opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2023 study<\/a> by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) found that 24,000 Pakistanis entered EU countries illegally over the past three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the outset of his address, the premier stressed that Pakistan and Austria shared \u201clong-standing friendly relations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier outlined the areas in which the two countries remained \u201cproactively engaged\u201d, including mining and minerals and renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He detailed that he held meetings with the leadership of Austria, stating that he aims \u201cto take many of these discussions to their logical conclusion\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He noted that 6o per cent of Pakistan\u2019s population was young and \u201cneeded modern training in their hands, including laptops, AI, and IT-led initiatives\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PM Shehbaz highlighted that Pakistan held \u201chuge potential\u201d in the field of agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere, Austria can be a great partner, providing Pakistan with experience and modern technology to have value-addition in the field of citrus root, and make marmalade, juices and export them to Austria, the Middle East and other parts of the world\u201d, the premier added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FM Dar delivered the opening at the roundtable, a statement by the Foreign Office (FO) said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It added that the forum brought together leading businesses from both countries, reflecting the positive momentum in Pakistan\u2013Austria trade and investment ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking on the occasion, Dar emphasised expanding cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and innovation, while highlighting Pakistan\u2019s ongoing economic reforms and focus on improving the ease of doing business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He noted the \u201cnatural complementarities between Austria\u2019s technological strengths and Pakistan\u2019s dynamic market and young workforce\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FO statement said that he reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to a stronger partnership with Austria and expressed confidence that enhanced business-to-business linkages, institutional collaboration, and sustained political engagement would open new avenues of growth, connectivity, and long-term economic partnership with Austria and across the European region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier on Monday, PM Shehbaz was welcomed by Stocker upon his arrival at the Austrian Chancellery and was presented with a guard of honour, the Prime Minister\u2019s Office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement said that the national anthems of both countries were played at the arrival, and both leaders \u201cintroduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate and the delegation-level talks\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The premier also penned his remarks in the guest book at the Chancellery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This visit marks 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\u2018Pakistan working to jointly ban illegal immigration\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>FM Dar\u2019s remarks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n