Islamabad, Feb 22: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is set to embark on a two-day state visit to Azerbaijan from February 24 to 25, 2025, at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. This will be his second visit to the country since taking office in March 2024, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to expanding its diplomatic and economic ties with Azerbaijan. Accompanying the Prime Minister will be a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, along with other key cabinet members.
The visit is expected to feature extensive discussions between the two nations, focusing on bolstering cooperation in energy, trade, defense, education, and climate action. A number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements in various sectors are likely to be signed, strengthening the foundation of an already robust bilateral relationship.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share deep historical ties, rooted in mutual trust, understanding, and strategic cooperation across multiple domains. Over the years, Azerbaijan has emerged as one of Pakistan’s key economic and strategic partners, particularly in the energy sector.
A key highlight of the visit will be Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s keynote address at a Business Forum, organized in collaboration with AZPROMO (Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan). The forum is expected to bring together leading business representatives from both countries, opening new avenues for trade and investment.
Additionally, the Prime Minister, alongside President Ilham Aliyev, will visit Fuzuli, marking a significant moment in the liberated territories of Karabakh, where Azerbaijan has been undertaking large-scale reconstruction efforts.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is actively seeking to diversify its economic and strategic partnerships in the region. With Azerbaijan playing an increasingly pivotal role in regional trade and energy corridors, enhanced cooperation between the two countries holds great potential for shared development.
The high-level engagements scheduled during the visit are expected to lay the groundwork for stronger economic collaboration, deeper diplomatic ties, and expanded bilateral trade in the coming years.
