Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha, embarking on the second leg of his tri-nation visit after concluding his trip to Saudi Arabia.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), the prime minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is undertaking official visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye from April 15 to 18.
In a statement on X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that the premier, along with his delegation, was welcomed by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi.
Upon arrival, the Pakistani delegation was welcomed by a contingent of the Qatari Armed Forces, the PMO said, adding that the airport and the city had been decorated with Pakistani flags.
The PMO said the premier will hold a bilateral meeting in Doha with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The two will “exchange views on Pakistan’s efforts towards regional and global peace”.
Saudi Arabia visit concludes
In an earlier statement, the PMO said that PM Shehbaz had departed for Doha after concluding his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also posted that the premier and his delegation were leaving Madina for Doha to hold the meeting with the emir.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, the premier landed in Madina last night, where he and his delegation were welcomed by Madina Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud upon arrival.
According to the PMO, the prime minister visited the Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque in Madina and offered prayers for the progress of the country and nation, as well as for peace and reconciliation around the world.
“The gates of the Prophet’s Chamber were opened for the prime minister and the delegation; the prime minister paid a special visit to the Prophet’s Chamber (peace be upon him) and presented salutations and blessings,” the statement said.
After reaching Jeddah on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the PMO said. Dar was also present at the meeting.
Dar posted on X that the meeting was “marked by warmth, brotherhood, and a shared vision for a stronger Pakistan–Saudi Arabia partnership”.
In its earlier statement, the FO said the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar were “in the bilateral context”. It added that the premier would meet the leadership there to “discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security”.
In Turkiye, he will participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum and present Pakistan’s position in the Leaders’ Panel along with other world leaders, the FO added.
Gulf countries — including Saudi Arabia — were facing Iranian attacks, which Tehran says were aimed at US and Israeli sites in response to the latter’s deadly large-scale strikes. Pakistan intensified efforts to act as a mediator between the United States and Iran to end the war that had engulfed the Middle East, leading to a fragile, temporary ceasefire and a first round of talks in Islamabad.
Last month, PM Shehbaz hailed Saudi Arabia for showing “remarkable restraint” during the ongoing hostilities and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation.
