Shehbaz Sharif reaches Istanbul following Iran visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on Friday after concluding his visit to Tehran, where he attended an official engagement at the invitation of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on Friday after concluding his visit to Tehran, where he attended an official engagement at the invitation of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian. Following the visit to Iran, the prime minister traveled to Turkey to begin his official engagements.

According to official media, the prime minister was received at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, and senior diplomatic officials from both countries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a high-level Pakistani delegation during the visit. The delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and other senior government officials.

During the visit, the prime minister expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the people and leadership of Iran. He also conveyed condolences over the loss of the country’s senior leadership and offered prayers for the departed, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining close bilateral ties with Iran.

A parliamentary delegation, led by Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, also participated in the official proceedings alongside the prime minister. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and several members of parliament were also part of the Pakistani delegation.

After completing his engagements in Tehran, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Türkiye as part of his official visit. Upon his arrival at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, he was welcomed by Türkiye’s Minister of Trade, Professor Dr. Ömer Bolat, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid, and senior officials from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistani Embassy.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accompanied the prime minister on the visit to Istanbul.

The official visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Türkiye, expanding economic and trade cooperation, and discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest. Pakistan and Türkiye share longstanding diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties, with both countries continuing to cooperate closely across multiple sectors.