Prime minister to offer condolences in Tehran before holding strategic talks with President Erdogan in Türkiye on trade, investment and regional security
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to Iran and Türkiye from July 3 to July 5, during which he will attend the funeral ceremony of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, before holding high-level discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on expanding bilateral trade, investment and regional cooperation.
The three-day visit was announced on Thursday by Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, who said the prime minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
During the first leg of the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will travel to Tehran to participate in the state funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei. He is expected to convey condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan to the Iranian leadership and the bereaved family, while reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran during a period of national mourning.
According to Iranian authorities, the state funeral will begin in Tehran on July 4, while the burial ceremonies will conclude in the holy city of Mashhad on July 9. The funeral is expected to be attended by senior political leaders and official delegations from around the world.
Following his engagements in Iran, the prime minister will travel to Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During their meeting, the two leaders are expected to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-Türkiye relations, with a strong focus on boosting bilateral trade, attracting investment and enhancing economic cooperation. They will also exchange views on regional peace, security and other issues of mutual interest.
As part of his visit to Türkiye, Prime Minister Shehbaz will address a Pakistan-hosted business conference aimed at promoting investment opportunities across key sectors of the economy, including Special Economic Zones (SEZs), energy, information technology, trade and privatisation.
The conference is expected to bring together prominent Turkish investors, senior government officials and business leaders to explore new avenues for commercial collaboration and deepen economic ties between the two countries.
The Foreign Office said the visit reflects Pakistan’s longstanding historical, cultural and fraternal relations with both Iran and Türkiye, while underscoring Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with the two countries through enhanced political, economic and diplomatic engagement.