PM Shehbaz to meet Erdogan, attend Antalya Diplomacy Forum today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday as part of the third leg of his ongoing tri-nation tour, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

In a statement, the PMO said the prime minister will participate in a leaders’ panel discussion themed “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties” at the fifth edition of the forum being held in Antalya.

During the session, the premier is expected to present Pakistan’s perspective on global challenges and also hold interactions with other world leaders attending the forum. He will additionally attend the forum’s inaugural ceremony.

Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Turkiye on Thursday after a stop in Qatar, where he held discussions with the Qatari leadership on regional developments, including ongoing diplomatic efforts related to the Middle East situation.

His meeting with President Erdogan is expected to focus on bilateral relations as well as regional peace efforts, particularly Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue aimed at de-escalating tensions.

The Turkiye visit marks the final leg of the prime minister’s three-country tour, which began in Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. He later travelled to Doha to discuss developments surrounding US-Iran engagement.

According to the Foreign Office, the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar were primarily in the bilateral context, with discussions centred on cooperation, regional peace and security.

The tour comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Pakistan stepping up diplomatic outreach to support dialogue between the United States and Iran following recent escalations and subsequent ceasefire efforts.