ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Turkey next week.
“The prime minister would be visiting Turkey next week, and we would be sharing with you more details containing elements, specific elements and engagements envisaged during this visit,” Asim Iftikhar, FO spokesman said in his weekly press briefing.
PM Shehbaz has made two foreign trips this month to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), respectively, after assuming office on April 12, to strengthen bilateral relationship with the oil-rich brethren states.
Following the prime minister’s visit, Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan said this week that the Kingdom was finalising the extension of the $3 billion deposit to Pakistan.
Pakistan is in dire need of external finances, hurt by high inflation, reserves declining to as low as less than two months of imports, and a fast-weakening currency.
Other foreign engagements
On other foreign engagements, the spokesperson said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari visited Davos, Switzerland, to attend World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting from May 23-26, with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar accompanying him.
He said on the sidelines of the event, the foreign minister — accompanied by Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman and Khar held bilateral meetings with — Queen Máxima of The Netherlands, Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and others.
