ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Austria on Tuesday agreed to further enhance their collaboration to strengthen the UN system, reaffirming their support for multilateralism and a rules-based global order underpinned by the principles of the UN Charter.
The two countries expressed this resolve in a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office at the conclusion of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Austria.
According to the statement, Federal Chancellor of Austria, Mr Christian Stocker, received PM Shehbaz Sharif for an official visit on 16 February 2026. The visit marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Austria and Pakistan in 1956.
READ MORE: Pakistan, Austria pledge to bolster economic cooperation, trade, investment, education
Both the leaders reiterated the friendly and historical ties between the two countries and committed to work towards further strengthening bilateral relations in such fields as economic cooperation, trade and investment.
Both sides took stock of developments at the global level and agreed on the central role of the United Nations in addressing the challenges of peace and security, sustainable development, and promotion of human rights. They expressed their unwavering support for multilateralism, rule-based global order, underpinned by the principles and purposes of Charter of the United Nations and to further enhance their collaboration for strengthening the UN system.
Both the leaders noted the potential between the two countries to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, tourism, hospitality, education, IT, healthcare and human resource development and mobility. In this regard they agreed to work for the early finalization of various Memoranda of Understanding under consideration related to these areas.
In addition to a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders and delegation-level talks, the Federal Chancellor of Austria and the Prime Minister of Pakistan also co-chaired a forum of leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. It was agreed to further enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation through existing and future frameworks, building on the established mechanisms of dialogue.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan invited the Austrian businesses and companies to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum to be held in Islamabad in April 2026.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker to visit Pakistan in the near future.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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