Islamabad – 13 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Foreign Minister of Norway, H.E. Espen Barth Eide, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on Thursday.The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the Norwegian Foreign Minister and expressed satisfaction over the warm and cordial relations between Pakistan and Norway. He appreciated Norway’s bilateral cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in education, skilled labour, climate resilience and technology.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s strong desire to further enhance bilateral trade with Norway and invited Norwegian companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s oil and gas sector.During discussions on regional and global developments, the Prime Minister appreciated Norway’s strong and principled support for Palestine. He also thanked Norway for its consistent support for Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace, particularly in the Gulf region.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide thanked the Prime Minister for the warm reception and conveyed the good wishes of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to him. He appreciated Pakistan’s significant role in regional peace efforts and reaffirmed Norway’s interest in further strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors.The Norwegian Foreign Minister also praised the positive contribution of the Pakistani diaspora in Norway.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to the Norwegian Prime Minister to undertake an official visit to Pakistan.Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.