PM Shehbaz urges Austrian in a hard 3-step plan to curb illegal flows
PM Shehbaz urges Austrian — A New Push to Tackle Illegal Migration Together
Pakistan and Europe have shared a long history of cooperation, but the recent meeting in Vienna has opened the door for a deeper and more focused partnership. During his official visit, PM Shehbaz urges Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker to work jointly against illegal migration and expand multi-sector relations.
The meeting took place at the historic Hofburg Palace, where both leaders first held a restricted session and later joined their full delegations. Pakistan’s team included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. Every part of the discussion reflected a clear goal: PM Shehbaz urges Austrian leadership to move toward stronger bilateral action.
Joint Fight Against Illegal Migration
A major theme of the meeting was illegal migration, an issue both sides recognize as a serious challenge. PM Shehbaz urges Austrian officials to join hands with Pakistan to curb unlawful movement across borders. He made it clear that Pakistan strongly opposes illegal immigration and has already been working closely with European partners like Austria, Germany, and France.
The prime minister said Pakistan is ready to help Europe meet its demand for skilled labour by providing trained, certified, and reliable workers.
Building a Multi-Sector Partnership
The two leaders also reaffirmed their long-standing ties and agreed to deepen cooperation in various fields, including:
Trade and investment
Tourism
Information technology
Healthcare
Education
Renewable energy
Human resource development
MoUs related to these sectors are expected to be finalized soon. Once again, PM Shehbaz urges Austrian government bodies and private companies to collaborate more actively in these areas.
Both sides emphasised the crucial role of the United Nations in maintaining peace, tackling climate challenges, protecting human rights, and promoting sustainable development. They also agreed to continue supporting each other’s positions in multilateral forums.
Engagement With Business Leaders
One of the highlights of the trip was a business forum jointly chaired by the prime minister and the Austrian chancellor. CEOs from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies attended the event.
Industries like renewable energy, industrial manufacturing, textiles, healthcare, and tourism were at the center of attention. Here again, PM Shehbaz urges Austrian investors to look at Pakistan’s emerging opportunities—especially in IT, minerals, agriculture, and clean energy.
He highlighted that well-known Austrian companies such as Doppelmayr have been active in Pakistan for decades, installing cable car systems in Murree, Patriata, and other regions. According to him, this history shows that partnerships can succeed when both sides commit to long-term engagement.
Pakistan’s Young Workforce as Europe’s Potential Strength
Speaking at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the prime minister pointed out Pakistan’s demographic advantage. With a population of about 240 million, nearly 60% are young, energetic, and eager to learn modern skills. The government is expanding IT education, AI learning, technical training, and vocational programs across the country.
In this context, PM Shehbaz urges Austrian industries to welcome Pakistani workers who will be internationally certified and capable of fulfilling Europe’s rising labour demands. He stressed that regulated skilled migration not only benefits Europe but also provides Pakistan’s youth with safe, legal, and dignified opportunities.
Diplomatic Warmth and Future Visits
At the Federal Chancellery, Chancellor Stocker welcomed the prime minister with a guard of honour and formal ceremony. PM Shehbaz also signed the guest book and thanked the Austrian leadership for productive and meaningful discussions.
Before concluding the visit, PM Shehbaz urges Austrian chancellor to visit Pakistan soon and continue the momentum built during the Vienna meeting.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Vienna opened an important chapter in Pakistan–Austria relations. The tone of the meetings was practical and forward-looking, with both sides recognising that today’s challenges—especially illegal migration—cannot be handled alone. By inviting Austria to work jointly on a clear and lawful framework, the prime minister showed that Pakistan wants a responsible approach, one that protects borders but also creates fair pathways for skilled workers.
The discussions about trade, technology, education, clean energy, and human resource development added another layer to this engagement.
