ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal arrived in Bangladesh on a two-day official visit to represent Pakistan at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman, the Foreign Office announced on Monday.
Read More: Ahsan Iqbal to witness Rahman’s oath in Dhaka
Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, secured a commanding victory in last week’s general election, the first since the 2024 uprising that ended former PM Sheikh Hasina’s long-standing rule. Iqbal’s attendance underscores Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh’s democratic process and its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. The ceremony in Dhaka on February 17 was attended by Iqbal as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could not attend due to prior overseas engagements.
وفاقی وزیر جناب احسن اقبال نو منتخب وزیرِاعظم بنگلہ دیش کی تقریبِ حلف برداری میں شرکت کے لیے ڈھاکہ روانہ۔ وزیرِ اعظم پاکستان کی نمائندگی کرتے ہوئے وفاقی وزیر احسن اقبال بنگلہ دیش میں اعلیٰ سطحی حکام سے اہم ملاقاتیں کریں گے۔
وزیرِاعظم پاکستان کے غیر ملکی دورے کے باعث وفاقی وزیر… pic.twitter.com/Vmcgsprsf8
— Ministry of Planning and Development (@PlanComPakistan) February 16, 2026
Meanwhile, PM Sharif began a two-day official tour of Austria, meeting Chancellor Christian Stocker to discuss trade expansion, investment, and economic cooperation. He also held sessions with the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the UN Industrial Development Organisation, focusing on nuclear energy, counter-narcotics, crime control, and sustainable industrial development.
After Austria, PM Sharif arrived in the United Kingdom and was welcomed at Luton Airport by Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Dr Muhammad Faisal, along with senior PML-N UK officials. He is accompanied by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi.
Read More: Pakistan invited to Bangladeshi PM’s oath-taking ceremony tomorrow
PM Sharif will spend two days in London before departing for the United States to participate in the ‘Board of Peace’ meeting initiated by President Donald Trump for Gaza reconstruction, and plans to return to London briefly before heading back to Pakistan.