ANTALYA (The Thursday Times) — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited the presidents of Iraq and Finland to visit Pakistan after separate meetings with the two leaders on the sidelines of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on Thursday, his office said.
Meeting Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Shehbaz congratulated him on Iraq’s parliamentary elections and the formation of its new government, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, and stability.
The two leaders reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, manpower, reconstruction, agriculture, and defence. Shehbaz thanked Baghdad for facilitating Pakistani pilgrims who travel to Iraq’s holy sites, and both sides agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums.
Finnish know-how for floods and glaciers
In his meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, the prime minister said Pakistan wanted to turn its friendly ties with Finland into a forward-looking partnership in trade, investment, education, skills, technology, and climate resilience.
He welcomed the presence of Finnish companies such as Nokia, Wärtsilä, Metso, and Vaisala in Pakistan, and encouraged more investment in telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, clean technology, and mining. He said Pakistan wanted to draw on Finland’s expertise in flood forecasting, water management, climate-resilient farming, glacier monitoring, and early-warning systems.
The two leaders also discussed efforts to end the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Stubb appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States, according to the prime minister’s office.
The meetings came hours after Shehbaz told the COP31 leaders’ summit that water must never be weaponised, and a day after his talks with the Iranian and Syrian presidents in Antalya.
