ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began a three-nation visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye on Wednesday, his office said in a statement, as Islamabad steps up diplomatic engagement in the Middle East following recent tensions in the region.
The visit comes in the wake of the US-Israel war on Iran, during which Pakistan condemned Tehran’s attacks on Gulf states and positioned itself as a mediator, while maintaining close coordination with regional partners including Riyadh, Doha and Ankara.
The Pakistani prime minister arrived in Jeddah, where he was welcomed by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, the deputy governor of Makkah region, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
Deputy Governer Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz receiving Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport. Jeddah, 15 April 2026. (PM Office)
“In Jeddah, the prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” Sharif’s office said.
“The meeting will focus on further strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as discussing the regional situation.”
The Pakistani prime minister will undertake visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye from April 15-18, the PMO said.
The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Prime Minister’s Spokesperson for Foreign Media Musharraf Zaidi.
The Foreign Office said Sharif’s travel to Saudi Arabia and Qatar was for bilateral engagements before heading to Türkiye to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he will participate in a leaders’ panel and hold meetings with world leaders, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Deputy Governer Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz meets Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport. Jeddah, 15 April 2026. (PM Office)
Pakistan has strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye in recent years across defense, diplomacy and economic cooperation, with the Gulf states playing a key role in supporting Islamabad’s external financing needs and hosting large Pakistani diaspora communities.
The visit also follows a series of regional consultations, including a quadrilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt in Islamabad last month to discuss the Middle East situation.
Senior officials from the four countries met again in Islamabad this week, with their deliberations set to feed into another meeting of foreign ministers scheduled to be held in Antalya on April 17 on the sidelines of the forum.
Pakistan has remained engaged with regional partners as it navigates evolving geopolitical dynamics, with officials saying the prime minister’s visit highlights Islamabad’s commitment to dialogue, multilateral cooperation and regional stability.
