Vienna, February 17, 2026: The Government of the Republic of Austria, represented by Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, represented by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations across multiple sectors.
The Federal Chancellor received the Pakistani prime minister for an official visit on February 16, marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Austria and Pakistan in 1956. Both leaders reiterated the friendly and historic ties between the two countries and expressed their resolve to deepen cooperation, particularly in economic engagement, trade, and investment.
Reviewing global developments, the two sides underscored the central role of the United Nations in addressing challenges related to international peace and security, sustainable development, and the promotion of human rights. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for multilateralism and a rules-based international order grounded in the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and agreed to enhance collaboration aimed at strengthening the UN system.
Both leaders noted the significant potential to expand cooperation in areas including trade and investment, tourism and hospitality, education, information technology, healthcare, and human resource development and mobility. In this regard, they agreed to work towards the early finalization of several Memoranda of Understanding currently under consideration.
In addition to a one-on-one meeting and delegation-level talks, Chancellor Stocker and Prime Minister Sharif co-chaired a forum of leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. The two sides agreed to further promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation through existing and future frameworks, building on established dialogue mechanisms.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Austrian businesses to participate in the upcoming EU–Pakistan Business Forum scheduled to be held in Islamabad in April 2026. He also extended an invitation to Chancellor Stocker to visit Pakistan in the near future, which was warmly received.
