Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed on Wednesday for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, marking the start of a three-nation diplomatic tour scheduled to continue until April 18. This trip comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Joining the Prime Minister are Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi. During his stay in Saudi Arabia, Shehbaz Sharif is set to engage in high-level discussions with the Kingdom’s leadership, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional peace and security.
In a significant development, the Prime Minister will also visit the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye from April 15 to 18, 2026. His itinerary includes participation in the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye, where he will join the Leaders’ Panel alongside other global figures to present Pakistan’s stance on key issues.
On the sidelines of the Antalya Forum, PM Sharif is expected to hold bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other influential world leaders, further advancing Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that Saudi Arabia has pledged an additional $3 billion in deposits for Pakistan, with funds anticipated to be disbursed in the upcoming week. This financial support supplements the existing $5 billion deposit from Saudi Arabia, which will now be extended for a longer duration rather than being subject to the previous annual rollover arrangement.
The finance minister made these remarks while addressing the media in Washington, D.C., during the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026. He emphasized that this timely assistance is crucial for addressing Pakistan’s external financing challenges, bolstering foreign exchange reserves, and stabilizing the country’s external accounts.
