Pakistan and Qatar Strengthen Bilateral Ties During PM Shehbaz’s Visit

Islamabad and Doha reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors during a two-day official visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Qatar, commencing Monday, February 23, 2026.

PM Shehbaz’s Meetings with Qatari Leadership

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha at the invitation of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He was received at King Hammad International Airport by Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Aamer and other officials [Dawn].

The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with Sheikh Tamim, as well as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani [Brecorder]. Discussions will encompass political engagement, economic collaboration, energy partnerships and people-to-people exchanges.

A bilateral meeting between PM Shehbaz and Sheikh Tamim will focus on exploring modern avenues of cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure development, and manpower export [Dawn].

Key Discussions and Areas of Cooperation

The visit reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and Qatar and their shared commitment to strengthening multifaceted cooperation [Dawn]. Both countries share a longstanding partnership built on mutual trust and close coordination at regional and international forums.

PM Shehbaz is similarly expected to meet with Qatar’s Deputy PM Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, and Minister for Foreign Trade Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed [Brecorder]. A delegation from the Qatar Businessmen Association is also scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister during his stay.

The Qatari Prime Minister will host an Iftar dinner in honor of PM Shehbaz and his delegation [Brecorder].

Recent History of Pakistan-Qatar Relations

This visit builds upon existing strong ties, as demonstrated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s previous expression of solidarity with Qatar following an Israeli attack on Doha in September 2025 [The Nation]. During that visit, he conveyed Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the attack and reaffirmed the historic fraternal bonds between the two nations.

Delegation Details

Accompanying PM Shehbaz on this visit are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and his aide Tariq Fatemi [Brecorder].

The visit will also provide an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, reaffirming their resolve to work closely for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region [Dawn].