ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, embarking on a four‑day diplomatic tour that also includes Qatar and Türkiye.
His visit comes as Riyadh pledges billions of dollars in loans and financial support to Pakistan, alongside the stationing of Pakistani troops under a mutual defence agreement.
The Foreign Office said the Prime Minister will meet Saudi and Qatari leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional peace.
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In Doha, energy security is expected to dominate talks, with Pakistan facing mounting electricity shortages as summer demand peaks. Qatar’s role as a long‑term LNG supplier is seen as critical to easing the crisis.
PM Sharif will later travel to Türkiye to attend the Fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he will join the Leaders’ Panel to present Pakistan’s perspective on global diplomacy. Bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other world leaders are also planned.
Observers say the visit unfolds against a tense backdrop of US–Iran negotiations, with Islamabad positioning itself as a mediator. Talks hosted in Pakistan earlier this week ended without breakthrough, but officials remain hopeful of renewed dialogue. Sharif has acknowledged the support of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, China and Egypt in efforts to de‑escalate tensions.
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Analysts say the Prime Minister’s tour is aimed at securing economic lifelines, energy relief, and diplomatic visibility. Yet, with Pakistan’s power sector under strain and regional geopolitics in flux, the challenge remains whether promises of aid and energy translate into tangible relief for citizens at home.
