ISLAMABAD/DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed satisfaction during a meeting in Doha on Tuesday over the positive trajectory of political engagement and underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, as Sheikh Tamim reiterated Qatar’s commitment to deepening its economic partnership with Pakistan to a higher strategic level.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present, the PM Office said in a statement.
It stated that the two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Qatar.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, emphasising the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful resolution of disputes, it added. It further said they reaffirmed their support for closer cooperation within multilateral fora and agreed to maintain close coordination on key regional issues.
The visit reflects the shared resolve of Pakistan and Qatar to further solidify their robust partnership and translate their strong political ties into tangible economic outcomes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his invitation to the Emir to undertake a visit to Pakistan which His Highness happily accepted. The visit shall take place later this year.
“Had an excellent meeting with the Emir of Qatar and my dear brother His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha this evening. I was also joined by DPM/FM Senator Ishaq Dar and CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir,” wrote Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on social media platform X.
“Our most warm and productive discussions focused on how our two sides can advance our brotherly fraternal bonds and transform them into mutually beneficial economic relationships. We also took stock of the regional situation. Pakistan and Qatar will continue to work together for peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the PM said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held wide-ranging meetings in Qatar aimed at strengthening defence cooperation, diversifying Pakistan’s exports and expanding bilateral collaboration across key sectors.
During his engagements, he also invited the Gulf state’s business community to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s push to deepen economic and strategic ties with Doha.
In his meeting with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, PM Shehbaz underscored Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening defence cooperation and expanding bilateral collaboration with Qatar
The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in defence and security and reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between Pakistan and Qatar. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the ongoing collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries. Qatar’s deputy PM appreciated the professionalism and expertise of Pakistan armed forces and conveyed Qatar’s interest in deepening the defence partnership between the two countries.
Regional developments, in particular the situation in Iran and Afghanistan, were also discussed. Both sides emphasised the importance of dialogue, de-escalation and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. The meeting reflected the shared resolve of Pakistan and Qatar to further elevate their strategic partnership across all areas of mutual interest.
In his meeting with Minister of State of Qatar on Foreign Trade Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, who is also the chairman of Pak-Qatar Joint Business Task Force, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the importance of enhancing bilateral trade volumes and diversifying Pakistan’s exports to Qatar, particularly in agricultural products, food items and value-added goods.
They also reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in Pakistan-Qatar relations. They also discussed follow-up to the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing agreed decisions.
The prime minister also highlighted Pakistan’s investment-friendly reforms and the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in facilitating foreign investment. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed reiterated Qatar’s interest in expanding economic cooperation and strengthening private-sector and business linkages between the two countries. They also agreed to convene a meeting of the task force, comprising relevant officials of both countries, within the month of Ramazan, to discuss concrete investment proposals for Qatari investment in Pakistan. The meeting underscored the shared resolve to further deepen trade, investment and industrial collaboration between Pakistan and Qatar.
Talking to a delegation of Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA), led by Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman QBA, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators and reform measures introduced to facilitate foreign investment.
PM Shehbaz invited the members of Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA) to explore opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, energy, agriculture, technology and export-oriented manufacturing sectors. He appreciated the constructive role played by the Qatar Businessmen Association in strengthening economic and commercial linkages between the two countries. He also underscored that Pakistan attached high importance to private-sector-led engagement as a key pillar of bilateral partnership.
The prime minister emphasized the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a one-window platform to ensure transparency, efficiency and timely decision-making for investors. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani expressed interest in enhancing business-to-business cooperation and exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement, including during the upcoming visit of the task force on Pak-Qatar investment to Doha later this month, as well as hosting of business forums, to translate discussions into concrete economic partnerships.
They also agreed to undertake special efforts to facilitate linkages between businesses and entrepreneurs of both the countries so that business-to-business relations between Pakistan and Qatar could be enhanced. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and Qatar to further expand trade and investment ties through strengthened collaboration between their respective private sectors. During the meetings, the prime minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi.
