PM Shehbaz, Austrian chancellor vow to deepen multi-sector partnership

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker on Monday to join the fight against illegal immigration as the two reaffirmed the long-standing ties between their countries and agreed to strengthen multi-sectoral bilateral relations in several areas.

A statement from the PM Office said the development came in a productive meeting at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

The two leaders held a restricted meeting, followed by delegation-level talks. Pakistan’s delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.

“Let us work together to combat illegal migration, and let us provide skilled young Pakistanis access to jobs in Austria. I know you already have similar agreements with other countries,” the prime minister was quoted as saying to the chancellor in a post on X by stater broadcaster PTV News on his address.

During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed the historic and friendly ties between their countries and committed to working more closely to strengthen bilateral cooperation in several areas, including economic cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, education, IT, healthcare, and human resource development. They agreed to expedite the finalisation of memorandums of understanding related to these sectors.

The discussions also touched on regional and global developments, with both sides agreeing on the central role of the United Nations in addressing key global challenges such as peace and security, dispute resolution, sustainable development, climate action, and the protection of human rights.

They expressed a shared commitment to multilateralism and lauded their mutual support for each other’s candidacies while collaborating with the international community to strengthen the UN system.

The prime minister and Chancellor Stocker also co-chaired a forum with CEOs from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies working in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, industrial manufacturing, textiles, healthcare, and tourism.

The forum aimed to enhance government-to-government, government-to-business and business-to-business engagements between the two countries.

Concluding the meeting, the prime minister thanked Chancellor Stocker for the meaningful discussions, which are expected to lend fresh momentum to bilateral ties. He also extended an invitation for the Chancellor to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

Upon arrival at the Federal Chancellery, the prime minister was welcomed by Chancellor Stocker, accompanied by an guard of honour. Following this, the PM Shehbaz inscribed his comments in the guest book.

Earlier, while addressing a business forum at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna, PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan strongly opposed illegal immigration and was working closely with European partners, including Austria, Germany, and France, to curb it, while also offering to meet Europe’s demand for skilled labour through internationally certified manpower.

“In return, your demand for trained and skilled labour will be fulfilled by Pakistan, with international certification to meet your requirements and satisfaction,” he said.

Highlighting Pakistan’s demographic advantage, Shehbaz said the country’s population of around 240 million includes nearly 60% young people who are “talented and eager for modern training in information technology, artificial intelligence and digital skills.” He added that federal and provincial governments are expanding IT-led education, vocational and technical training across the country.

Calling on Austrian companies to deepen investment and business engagement with Pakistan, the prime minister highlighted opportunities in information technology, agriculture, mining, renewable energy and tourism.

“Pakistan and Austria have long-standing friendly relations based on strong historical foundations. Austrian companies have been working in Pakistan for many decades,” he said, while acknowledging that commercial activity had declined in recent years “for a variety of reasons.”

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Citing companies such as Doppelmayr, which has installed cable car projects in Patriata, Murree and other parts of Pakistan, PM Shehbaz said sectors such as mining, minerals and renewable energy offer significant scope for renewed collaboration.

The prime minister said he was warmly received by Austrian officials and business leaders, describing the engagement as “very fruitful and very productive,” including restricted sessions, bilateral meetings and smaller group interactions between Pakistani and Austrian businesses. “We have agreed that we will now jointly follow up on these meetings and take these discussions to their logical conclusion,” he said, referring to his talks with Austrian leadership.

Describing Pakistan as an agrarian economy with about 60% of its population living in rural areas, PM Shehbaz said there is vast potential for cooperation in improving per-acre yields and value addition, particularly in citrus processing for exports to Austria, the Middle East and other markets.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s vast mineral resources, including rare minerals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir, saying Austria could be “a great partner” in the sector.

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On tourism, the prime minister invited Austrian entrepreneurs to visit Pakistan. “Be my guest, and we will take you to all these places and meet your counterparts all over Pakistan,” he said, adding that opportunities in textiles, leather and manufacturing would also be showcased.

PM Shehbaz said Austria’s expertise in engineering, renewable energy, environmental technology and advanced manufacturing aligns with Pakistan’s development goals, particularly in hydropower, solar energy, biomass and grid modernisation.

Concluding his address, the prime minister invited Austrian firms to participate in the EU–Pakistan Business Forum, scheduled for late April in Islamabad, saying Pakistan looks forward to taking the bilateral economic partnership “to new heights.”

PM Shehbaz arrived at the Austrian Chancellery in Vienna earlier today, where he was received with a guard of honour, Pakistan TV shared on X.

The visit marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Austria and is the first by a Pakistani prime minister to Vienna in over three decades.

PM Shehbaz is set to participate in a United Nations special event under the theme “Sustainable Development: the Path to Global Peace and Prosperity”, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to multilateral cooperation on sustainable development.

He is also scheduled to meet leaders of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to discuss peaceful nuclear energy, counter-narcotics, crime control, and sustainable industrial development.

The Foreign Office said the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and reaffirm Pakistan’s shared commitment with Austria to dialogue, cooperation, multilateralism, and adherence to the UN Charter. This visit marks the first trip by a Pakistani prime minister to Austria in more than three decades, the last having been undertaken by then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992.