Vienna: 16 February 2026 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met the Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, H.E. Mr. Christian Stocker, at the Federal Chancellery in the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna.
Upon his arrival at the Federal Chancellery, the Prime Minister was received by Chancellor Stocker and welcomed by an impressive guard of honour ceremony. He also inscribed his comments in the Guest Book.
Thereafter, the two leaders held a restricted meeting, followed by delegation-level talks, which included the Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi as well as Foreign Secretary Amb. Amna Baloch.
Both 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. To this end, they agreed to work for the early finalization of MoUs under consideration related to these areas.
Both sides also exchanged 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.
They expressed their shared commitment to multilateralism, and appreciated mutual support for each other’s candidatures, while working together with the international community for strengthening the UN system.
A Joint Statement was issued by Austria and Pakistan on successful conclusion of the visit. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the UN system, and a rules-based global order, while discussing global developments and cooperation in peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights.
The Prime Minister and the Federal Chancellor of Austria also co-chaired a forum of CEOs of leading Austrian and Pakistani companies working in renewable energies, energy efficiency, industrial manufacturing and construction, IT, textiles, surgical equipment, leather and sports products, healthcare, tourism and hospitality and food and agro-industries.
It was agreed to expand G2G, G2B and B2B engagements between the two countries through the effective utilization of the existing platforms. 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.
The Prime Minister thanked the Federal Chancellor for the meaningful and productive meetings during the visit, that would lend fresh impetus to bilateral ties. He extended an invitation to the Federal Chancellor to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his earliest convenience.
In their remarks, both leaders highlighted the enormous potential to enhance trade, cooperation in AI and digital technology and other priority sectors.
The Prime Minister invited the Austrian businesses and companies to expand their investments in Pakistan, particularly in the priority sectors for win-win partnerships between the private sectors of both countries.
The Prime Minister also invited Austrian companies to visit Pakistan and participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum to be held in Islamabad in April this year.
Addressing the Pakistan–Austria High-Level Business Roundtable in Vienna, he affirmed Pakistan was “absolutely” against illegal immigration and was “working with our European friends — Austria, France, and Germany — to jointly ban this illegal immigration [and bring it] to a grinding halt”.
He assured Austria that Pakistan would fulfil its “demand for skilled labour” as per the international certification required by it.
Every year, many young Pakistanis leave the country via illegal routes in hopes of better employment opportunities.
Prime Minister noted on his X account ; My visit to Austria carries special significance as we are having a high level visit after more than three decades. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan–Austria diplomatic relations.
During my most warm and productive meeting with Chancellor @_CStocker ,we reaffirmed our resolve 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.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday was accorded a warm reception and a guard of honour at the Austrian Chancellery, where he arrived to meet Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.
As the prime minister arrived at the venue of the formal reception ceremony, he was welcomed by Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.
The national anthems of Pakistan and Austria were played. The honor guards of Austria presented a guard of honour to the prime minister, which he reviewed and the Austrian chancellor accompanied him.
Both leaders introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for tête-à-tête and the delegation-level talks, wherein both sides will take stock of the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
The prime minister also penned his remarks in the guest book at the Chancellery.
Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to PM Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch, Prime Minister Shehbaz was on a two-day official visit here at the invitation Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.
This visit marks 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz to Vienna marks the first visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Austria in over three decades, the last having been undertaken by the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992.
