The 13 countries PM Nawaz visited during 2016
From January to December, Nawaz Sharif made two visits to Saudi Arabia, one each to US and Iran
Following is a detailed report on foreign visits by Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister of Pakistan during the year 2016.
January
With the beginning of New Year in 2016, PM Nawaz Sharif went on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, on January 4 (first Monday), upon the invitation of Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremasinghe.
He then paid a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) along with a high level delegation to meet the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud in Riyadh on January 18.
Afterwards, PM took a flight from Riyadh to Tehran with the then Chief of Army Staff General (retd) Raheel Sharif and Tariq Fatemi, foreign relations advisor to the premier. The delegation met Iranian President Hassan Rohani and exchanged views on ongoing Saudi-Iran tensions.
From there, Nawaz Sharif left for Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
February
PM went on a two-day visit to Qatar and signed an agreement in Doha a billion dollars’ worth LNG project. Moreover, he visited the Sheikh Faisal Museum in the Middle Eastern country.
March
The month started with PM’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the second time in 2016, on the request of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud during March 9. He was accompanied with then COAS General (retd) Raheel Sharif and special assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi. The delegation witnessed joint military exercises of 21 countries.
PM cancelled his visit to Washington amid the terrorist attack in Lahore.
April
Nawaz Sharif left for the United Kingdom on April 13 in order to get a medical checkup just after the Panama Leaks outcry. However, the PM’s plane stopped by at the Russian capital Moscow for fuel. The tour was of six days and Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on April 19.
May
PM Nawaz visited Tajikistan on May 11 to attend the launching of CASA-1000 according to which the two countries Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were to supply 1300 MW of electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He then went to Turkey for a private visit on May 13. He attended the marriage anniversary of the daughter of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Afterwards, Nawaz Sharif travelled to the British capital London on May 22 for a medical checkup. It was later told that the premier will be undergoing an open-heart surgery. The successful surgery was completed on May 31.
June
PM Nawaz Sharif stayed in the United Kingdom for the most part though he was released by London clinic on June 6. He had his follow up check on June 19 after his open heart surgery. It was told that the premier will return to Pakistan after Eid-ul-Fitr.
July
After 48 days, the prime minister returned to Pakistan from London on July 9.
August
There were no foreign visits in August 2016.
September
On September 19, the PM arrived in New York, the United States of America. He attended the 71st session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Moreover, he raised his voice for atrocities in occupied Kashmir by Indian forces.
October
PM landed in the capital city of Azerbaijan, Baku, on a three-day visit to discuss bilateral relations with the country on October 13.
He cancelled the visit to Kyrgyzstan due to prevailing political situation in the country during October 28.
November
PM paid the only two-day visit to Turkmenistan in November on 25th of the month. He led the delegation at Global Conference on Sustainable Transport in Ashgabat.
December
On December 20, Nawaz Sharif arrived in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, for a three-day official visit to the country. He was accompanied with his wife Kalsoom Nawaz and addressed at a business forum of Foreign Trade Chamber and Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of Bosnia.
