PM Shehbaz Sets New Record by Averaging 1 Foreign Visit Every 30 Days

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set a new record, undertaking 34 foreign visits in just the past 18 months. Sources told ProPakistani that the prime minister made these trips between March 2024 and October 2025, with Saudi Arabia emerging as his top destination, underscoring Islamabad’s deepening ties with Riyadh. The premier also made two visits each to China, the United States, and Egypt, as part of what officials describe as an aggressive diplomatic and economic outreach. Government insiders insist the prime minister’s foreign tours were aimed at reviving Pakistan’s struggling economy, attracting foreign investment, and strengthening diplomatic partnerships amid mounting regional challenges. Opposition leaders have accused the government of “luxury diplomacy” while ordinary citizens grapple with inflation and insecurity. In stark contrast, President Asif Ali Zardari embarked on only three official foreign visits during the same period, a statistic that opposition lawmakers have seized upon to highlight what they describe as “misplaced priorities” within the Sharif administration. Despite the criticism, officials close to the prime minister maintain that his foreign engagements are “strategically vital” for Pakistan’s long-term interests, pointing to fresh investment pledges from Gulf states and renewed cooperation with China and the United States.