Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan from February 24-25, following an invitation from President Ilham Aliyev, the Foreign Office announced.
According to the statement released on Saturday, this will be PM Shehbaz’s second visit to Azerbaijan since assuming office in March 2024.
He will be joined by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and other key Cabinet members, demonstrating Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Azerbaijan.
During the visit, both sides will engage in comprehensive discussions on various matters of mutual interest, aiming to bolster bilateral cooperation in sectors such as energy, trade, defense, education, and climate.
Several MoUs and agreements covering different areas of collaboration are also expected to be signed.
Additionally, PM Shehbaz is set to deliver a keynote speech at a Business Forum organized in partnership with the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO).
As part of a special visit to the liberated territories of Karabakh, the prime minister, along with the Azerbaijani president, will travel to Fuzuli (Karabakh).
Pakistan and Azerbaijan are likely to finalize an agreement to establish an international trading company in Singapore as a Joint Venture between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).
The federal cabinet has already approved the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) decision for the company’s formation. This will be PSO’s first-ever trading company in Singapore, focusing on LNG and other energy products. PSO is expected to deposit $0.5 million in a Singaporean bank for its registration.
Notably, in February 2024, Pakistan signed a $1.6 billion agreement with Azerbaijan for the sale of JF-17C Block-III fighter jets. Later, in July 2024, during the Azerbaijani President’s visit to Pakistan, both nations agreed to boost bilateral investment up to $2 billion in mutually beneficial projects.
