Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker to collaborate in combating illegal immigration during talks in Vienna on Monday, as both leaders reaffirmed the long-standing ties between their countries and pledged to strengthen bilateral relations.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The development occurred during a productive meeting at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The two leaders first 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.
Sharif proposed joint efforts to address illegal migration and requested access to job opportunities in Austria for skilled Pakistani youth. “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,” he said, as reported by PTV News.
Areas of Cooperation
Both leaders reaffirmed the historic and friendly ties between Pakistan and Austria and committed to enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including economic cooperation, trade, investment, tourism, education, IT, healthcare, and human resource development. They agreed to expedite the finalization of memorandums of understanding related to these areas.
Discussions also covered regional and global developments, with both sides emphasizing the central role of the United Nations in addressing challenges related to peace, security, dispute resolution, sustainable development, climate action, and human rights. They expressed a shared commitment to multilateralism and mutual support for each other’s candidacies within the UN system.
Business Forum Held
Prime Minister Sharif and Chancellor Stocker co-chaired a forum with CEOs from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, industrial manufacturing, textiles, healthcare, and tourism. The forum aimed to foster government-to-government, government-to-business, and business-to-business engagement.
Earlier, addressing a business forum at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna, PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s opposition to illegal immigration and its collaboration with European partners, including Austria, Germany, and France, to curb it. He also offered to meet Europe’s demand for skilled labor through internationally certified manpower.
Sharif noted Pakistan’s demographic advantage, with a population of around 240 million, nearly 60% of whom are young people eager for training in IT, artificial intelligence, and digital skills. He added that the federal and provincial governments are expanding IT-led education and vocational training.
He called on Austrian companies to increase investment and engagement with Pakistan, highlighting opportunities in IT, agriculture, mining, renewable energy, and tourism. He acknowledged a decline in commercial activity in recent years but expressed optimism for renewed collaboration, citing examples like the Doppelmayr cable car projects in Pakistan.
The prime minister thanked Chancellor Stocker for the discussions, anticipating they would invigorate bilateral ties and extended an invitation for the Chancellor to visit Pakistan.
Upon arrival at the Federal Chancellery, Prime Minister Sharif was welcomed with a guard of honour and inscribed his comments in the guest book. 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 also scheduled to participate in a United Nations special event focused on sustainable development and meet with leaders from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
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