ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Jeddah on Wednesday for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, kicking off a significant four-day official tour spanning Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye from April 15 to 18, according to an official statement.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, the statement said, without sharing further details.
The announcement comes shortly after Finance Minister Aurangzeb said that Saudi Arabia has committed an additional $3 billion in deposits to Pakistan, with disbursement expected within a week, providing timely support for the country’s external financing needs.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026, the finance minister said the Kingdom has also agreed to extend its existing $5 billion deposit for a longer period, moving away from the earlier annual rollover arrangement.
During his visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the prime minister is expected to hold high-level meetings with the leadership of both countries to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security.
In Türkiye, the prime minister will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he will join a leaders’ panel to present Pakistan’s perspective on key global issues.
On the sidelines of the forum, Sharif is also expected to meet Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other world leaders.
Pakistan’s participation in the forum reflects its commitment to constructive diplomacy, multilateral cooperation and engagement on global challenges.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, along with other senior officials.
