Australian FM to visit Pakistan in May

Published May 1, 2015
Australian Foreign Minister Ms Julie Bishop. — AFP/file
Australian Foreign Minister Ms Julie Bishop. — AFP/file

ISLAMABAD: Australian Foreign Minister Ms Julie Bishop’s will arrive in Pakistan on May 6 on a two-day official visit.

"During her visit, Minister Bishop will hold meetings with Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal," a spokesman for the Australian High Commission to Pakistan told DawnNews.

She would also deliver a speech on women empowerment and gender equality issues in order to highlight the support of the Australian government to Pakistan in this regard. Her speech would have the audience of senior government officials and lawmakers.

Also read: Pakistan, Australia to deepen defence ties

The Australian foreign minister would moreover visit Lahore on May 7 and meet with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

She is also scheduled to inaugurate a project funded by the Australian government.

The foreign minister’s visit comes nearly two months after Pakistan and Australia agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of defence and security, including military training.

The two sides agreed to enhance defence cooperation during talks between Australian Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at Army General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

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