ISLAMABAD, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to undertake an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkiye from July 3-5, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday.

The spokesperson, at the weekly press briefing, said that the prime minister would be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and other cabinet ministers and senior officials.

He told the media that Prime Minister Shehbaz would travel to Iran first to participate in the funeral ceremony of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei.

He said that the prime minister would convey condolences on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan to the Iranian leadership and the bereaved families while reaffirming solidarity with the brotherly nation in their hour of profound grief.

Later, he would proceed to Istanbul, Turkiye, at the invitation of the President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where he would hold discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations with a special focus on giving impetus to bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries. The leadership meeting would also reflect on issues concerning regional peace and security, he added.

During his stay in Istanbul, the prime minister would also address a business conference being hosted by Pakistan to spotlight Pakistan’s trade and investment potential in priority areas, including the SEZs, energy, trade, Information Technology, and privatisation sectors.

“The conference will bring together leading Turkish businessmen and investors alongside senior officials, dignitaries, and other distinguished participants from the business community,” spokesperson Andrabi said.

He said that the prime minister’s visit to Iran and Turkiye reflected Pakistan’s deep-rooted historical, cultural, and fraternal ties with the two brotherly nations.