ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday received Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev who landed in Islamabad on a two-day official visit at the Prime Minister’s invitation.
President Aliyev landed at Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan where he received a red carpet welcome as he was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The foreign dignitary was also presented with a 21-gun salvo.
During his visit, President Aliev will meet with the Prime Minister, President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials.
As both sides are set to engage in extensive discussions on areas of mutual interest to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) are expected to be signed between Islamabad and Baku.
Earlier, The News reported that President Zardari will host a banquet in the president’s honor and that the foreign dignitary will also meet Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
The foreign ministers of both countries will hold talks at the foreign ministry, the publication said.
It announced on Monday that five heads of state, including the President of Azerbaijan, namely Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nihan, Qatar’s Emir Tamim al-Nihan, are expected to visit Pakistan in the next five months. -Thani and Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
In April this year, Islamabad hosted the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for a three-day visit, during which the two sides held productive discussions and agreed to develop bilateral cooperation in many areas, including trade, connectivity, energy and people-to-people contacts.
During his three-day visit to the country, the Iranian president met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Munir, Senate Speaker Yusuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and the Chief Ministers and Governors of Sindh and Punjab.
The head of state visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister and other cabinet members, senior officials and a large business delegation.
