The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan announced on Sunday that Iranian President Dr Ebrahim Raisi is set to embark on an official visit to Pakistan from April 22 (Monday) to April 24 (Wednesday).
According to the statement, this marks the first visit by any head of state to Pakistan following the February 8 general elections.
Accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, including the foreign minister, cabinet members, senior officials, and a significant business delegation, President Raisi is expected to engage in a series of meetings during his visit.
The FO noted that Raisi is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Additionally, he will visit Lahore and Karachi, where he will interact with provincial leadership.
The agenda for discussions between the two sides encompasses a broad spectrum of topics aimed at bolstering Pakistan-Iran relations. These include trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts. Furthermore, regional and global developments will be addressed, along with bilateral cooperation to combat the common threat of terrorism.
Highlighting the historical, cultural, and religious ties between Pakistan and Iran, the FO emphasized the significance of this visit in further fortifying bilateral relations.
The visit occurs in the wake of recent security challenges along the Pakistan-Iran border. In response to attacks launched by Iran targeting alleged bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adl in Panjgur, Balochistan, Pakistan expressed condemnation and took measures to downgrade diplomatic ties. Subsequently, Pakistan conducted strikes on terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province. Despite these incidents, both countries have stressed the importance of maintaining amicable relations.
During a recent phone call between President Zardari and President Raisi on April 13, the need for enhanced information exchange to address security challenges was underscored, reflecting the ongoing dialogue between the two nations.