VIENNA, Monday, February 16, 2026 (WNP): Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, on Monday called for expanded cooperation in trade, investment and technology as he delivered opening remarks at the Pakistan–Austria High-Level Business Roundtable in Vienna.

The forum, hosted at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, brought together leading companies and business representatives from both countries, underscoring renewed momentum in bilateral economic engagement between Pakistan and Austria.

Addressing participants, Senator Dar emphasized the need to broaden collaboration beyond traditional sectors, highlighting opportunities in technology, innovation, renewable energy and industrial modernization.

He pointed to Pakistan’s ongoing economic reforms aimed at stabilizing macroeconomic fundamentals and improving the ease of doing business.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Austria’s technological expertise and advanced industrial base complemented Pakistan’s large and youthful population, expanding consumer market and strategic geographic location linking South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

“There are natural complementarities between Austria’s technological strengths and Pakistan’s dynamic market and young workforce,” he noted, inviting Austrian firms to explore long-term partnerships and joint ventures in Pakistan.

Dar reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening institutional linkages and enhancing business-to-business connectivity, expressing confidence that sustained political engagement at the highest level would translate into tangible economic gains.

The roundtable was part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Vienna, which marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Austria and aims to inject fresh momentum into trade and investment ties.

The officials said discussions at the forum focused on identifying new avenues for cooperation across key sectors and leveraging Pakistan’s reform agenda to attract foreign direct investment.

They view the engagement as part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to diversify economic partnerships within Europe and position itself as a competitive destination for investment amid shifting global supply chains and regional connectivity initiatives.