PM Shehbaz to Visit Iran, Türkiye for Key Engagements from July 3
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to Iran and Türkiye from July 3 to July 5. Speaking at a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the PM will first travel to Iran, where he will attend the funeral ceremony of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Accompanying him on the visit will be Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with cabinet ministers and senior government officials. During the visit, PM Shehbaz will convey condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to Iran’s leadership and the bereaved families, while reaffirming Pakistan’s support and solidarity with the Iranian nation during this difficult period. Following the Iran visit, the PM will head to Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Andrabi said the leadership meeting in Türkiye will focus on strengthening bilateral ties, with particular emphasis on expanding cooperation in trade and investment between the two countries. Discussions will also cover matters related to regional peace and security. As part of his engagements in Türkiye, the PM will address a business conference organised by Pakistan to showcase the country’s investment opportunities in priority sectors such as special economic zones (SEZs), energy, trade, information technology, and privatisation. The event is expected to attract prominent Turkish investors, senior officials, and business leaders. The FO spokesperson said the PM’s visits underscore Pakistan’s longstanding historical, cultural, and brotherly relations with both Iran and Türkiye. He said Pakistan has intensified diplomatic outreach with regional and global stakeholders, as well as key interlocutors, to support implementation of the Islamabad MoU, signed by the US and Iran on June 18. He added that Pakistan would continue working alongside Qatar in a facilitative and mediatory capacity throughout the negotiation process. Andrabi