Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan to attend the fifth anniversary celebrations of the country’s Victory Day. The visit, at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev, includes participation in Victory Day events in Baku and a bilateral meeting with the Azerbaijani president to review and expand cooperation across trade, investment, energy, defence, education, and regional connectivity. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar is accompanying the prime minister.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share longstanding fraternal ties rooted in shared faith, history, and culture, and maintain close collaboration in regional and international forums such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the United Nations. The visit is expected to reaffirm Pakistan’s support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Central Asian countries, along with Afghanistan and Azerbaijan, surged to $2.41 billion in fiscal year 2025, up from $1.92 billion the previous year. Pakistan’s exports to the region rose to $1.77 billion, while imports were recorded at $641 million, marking a significant recovery from FY24 figures. Afghanistan remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the region, with exports increasing to $1.39 billion and imports reaching $612.5 million. Kazakhstan emerged as a key partner with $250.8 million in exports from Pakistan, followed by Uzbekistan with exports of $91.4 million and imports of $20.3 million in FY25.
The prime minister’s visit highlights Pakistan’s focus on strengthening economic ties and regional cooperation while reaffirming its strategic and diplomatic engagement with Azerbaijan and Central Asian nations.
