PM Shehbaz travels to Baku for Victory Day ceremony

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan on Friday. He will attend the fifth anniversary celebrations of the country’s Victory Day in Baku. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar is accompanying the prime minister. The visit comes at the invitation of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who will host the official events.

During his stay, Prime Minister Shehbaz will meet President Aliyev to review bilateral relations between the two nations. Both leaders are expected to explore new areas of cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence, and education. They will also discuss ways to strengthen regional connectivity and economic collaboration. The meeting aims to build on existing ties and open new opportunities for mutual growth.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan share deep fraternal relations rooted in faith, history, and culture. Their partnership is based on trust and mutual respect. Over the years, both nations have supported each other at global forums. They continue to cooperate closely within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the United Nations (UN). This visit will reaffirm Pakistan’s firm support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Furthermore, Pakistan’s trade with Central Asian countries, including Azerbaijan, has shown a sharp rise in the current fiscal year. According to a recent report, bilateral trade with these nations reached $2.41 billion in FY25. This marks a significant increase from $1.92 billion recorded last year. Pakistan’s exports surged to $1.77 billion, while imports stood at $641 million, showing strong regional trade recovery.

Afghanistan remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the region, followed by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Exports to Afghanistan rose to $1.39 billion, while imports reached $612.5 million. Trade with Kazakhstan climbed to $250.8 million, reflecting growing economic engagement. Meanwhile, exports to Uzbekistan totaled $91.4 million, with imports of $20.3 million. These figures highlight Pakistan’s expanding economic footprint in Central Asia and its focus on regional cooperation.

Read More : PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku

Upon arrival, President Aliyev personally received the Pakistani premier at the main entrance, where the two leaders exchanged a warm handshake. A guard of honour was presented to PM Shehbaz, accompanied by the playing of the national anthems of both countries.

Following the formal welcome, the two leaders engaged in a bilateral meeting to explore opportunities for collaboration across various sectors. The discussions were set to continue in delegation-level talks, where officials from both sides would participate in shaping future agreements.