New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from the New Zealand's prime minister on Tuesday afternoon. During a warm and cordial exchange, the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed his counterpart on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach aimed at promoting peace and reducing tensions.
PM Luxon expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic initiatives, including its engagement with both Washington and Tehran, and conveyed his good wishes for the success of these efforts.
The prime minister thanked his New Zealand counterpart for the support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace, dialogue and stability in the region and beyond.
Moreover, the two leaders agreed to work together to further strengthen bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the friendly ties between the two countries. They also commended the positive role of the Pakistani diaspora in New Zealand.
At the conclusion of the call, PM Shehbaz invited Prime Minister Luxon to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.
Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the days ahead.
EU delegation meets PM, backs trade and investment expansion
A delegation of senior European Union officials and representatives of leading European companies met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.
The delegation, led by Peteris Ustubs of the European Commission, included senior figures from major European firms and financial institutions, and was in Pakistan to attend the EU-Pakistan Business Forum. The European Union’s Ambassador to Pakistan was also present.
Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said the European Union remained Pakistan’s largest trading partner and the principal destination for its exports. He described the EU-Pakistan Business Forum as an important development and expressed hope that it would help expand trade and investment ties.
He said the government would continue efforts to facilitate business and investment, while maintaining focus on economic stability despite regional challenges, including rising oil prices linked to the Middle East situation.
The Prime Minister also referred to his recent contacts with European Council President Antonio Costa, during which regional security and Pakistan-EU relations were discussed.
The EU delegation appreciated Pakistan’s cooperation in hosting the forum and acknowledged the Prime Minister’s role in promoting peace in the region. Members of the delegation noted strong potential for expanding business-to-business cooperation in sectors such as energy, communications and information technology.
More than 600 business meetings are expected to take place alongside the forum.
Senior Pakistani ministers and officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, attended the meeting.
