Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday arrived in the Bosnian capital on an official three-day visit.
The prime minister, accompanied by Begum Kalsoom Nawaz and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, were received at the Sarajevo International Airport by the Bosnian Minister for Transport and Communication Ismir Jusko.
High-ranking officials of the Bosnian government, Pakistan’s ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Lt Gen (r) Salim Nawaz, and Bosnian ambassador to Pakistan Nedim Makarevic were also present.
Guards of the Bosnian forces saluted the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as he stepped off his plane and was presented bouquets by children in traditional Bosnian dresses.
“The prime minister’s visit is a significant step in strengthening ties with Bosnia, particularly in the fields of trade, defence and culture,” Ambassador Lt Gen (r) Salim Nawaz told APP.
He said that the prime minister would hold meetings with President Bakir Izetbegovich and Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic during his visit. He will also interact with members of the Bosnian parliament and will be briefed at the Bosnian Business Forum.
“Pakistan regards Bosnia as an important Muslim country among the Balkan states and has had a long history of friendly relations which were further strengthened after the independence of Bosnia in 1994,” the ambassador said.
“Pakistan and Bosnia have always supported each other in the United Nations and other international forums,” he said.