Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and European Council President Antonio Costa jointly called for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East through dialogue and diplomacy, expressing deep concern over the hostilities in Iran and the Gulf countries and their subsequent impact on the global economy.
The two dignitaries conferred via a telephone call on Monday afternoon, during which the Prime Minister updated the EU leader on the latest developments in Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts to de-escalate the regional crisis.
President Costa endorsed Islamabad’s peace initiatives, reaffirming that the European Union supported all diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability to the region.
The conversation also covered the broader relationship between Pakistan and the EU, which the Prime Minister described as being of high significance. He recalled that his scheduled visit to Brussels had been postponed last month, with President Costa stating that he looked forward to welcoming the Prime Minister on mutually convenient dates in the future.
Focusing on economic ties, Mr. Sharif highlighted the importance of the GSP Plus scheme and noted that he looked forward to inaugurating the first Pakistan-EU Business Forum in Islamabad, scheduled for April 28-29, 2026.
The Prime Minister also conveyed his good wishes to the President of the European Commission, H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen.