President Asif Ali Zardari received credentials from the ambassadors of Norway, Azerbaijan, and Switzerland at Aiwan-e-Sadr, discussing trade and cooperation.
ISLAMABAD, October 12, 2026 — President Asif Ali Zardari officially received the diplomatic credentials of the ambassadors-designate representing the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Switzerland during a formal ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Monday.
During the proceedings, President Zardari extended formal felicitations to the incoming diplomats, wishing them successful tenures in Pakistan and emphasizing the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, economic partnerships, and regional security. Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, and Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad attended the credential presentation ceremonies and subsequent bilateral discussions.
In his diplomatic engagement with the Ambassador-designate of Norway, Sigvald Hauge, President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining its longstanding friendly relations with Oslo. The President expressed official appreciation for Norway’s humanitarian and financial assistance provided during Pakistan’s devastating floods in 2022. Furthermore, he welcomed the bilateral memorandum of understanding on climate cooperation finalized in April 2026.
President Zardari highlighted significant potential for expanding bilateral collaboration in renewable energy, maritime affairs, advanced technology, trade, and foreign investment. He also acknowledged the vital role played by the expatriate Pakistani diaspora in fostering strong interpersonal and economic ties between the two nations.
During his meeting with the Ambassador-designate of Azerbaijan, Irfan Shakiroglu Davudov, the President underscored the close, fraternal relations linking Islamabad and Baku. He stressed that both governments must translate strong political goodwill into expanded bilateral trade and joint investment ventures.
The discussions with the Azerbaijani envoy identified several strategic areas for mutual growth, including energy collaboration, regional connectivity, and defense-industrial partnerships. President Zardari welcomed recent progress in bilateral defense manufacturing and noted that the establishment of direct air links between the two countries has significantly boosted tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Diplomatic Engagement and Economic Cooperation With Swiss Envoy
In his meeting with the Ambassador-designate of Switzerland, Stéphane Laurent Rey, President Zardari focused on international mediation, peace-building, and economic diversification. The President praised Switzerland’s historic role in diplomatic mediation and peace initiatives, specifically highlighting Bern’s facilitation of technical discussions between the United States and Iran at Bürgenstock.
President Zardari emphasized the necessity of continued international collaboration to ensure sustainable regional peace and stability. Turning to bilateral economic ties, he outlined diverse opportunities for expanded cooperation in commerce, direct foreign investment, pharmaceutical manufacturing, information technology, cybersecurity, renewable energy, water resource management, and tourism promotion.
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The formal presentation of credentials marks the commencement of official diplomatic duties for the newly arrived envoys in Islamabad. Foreign Ministry officials noted that bilateral follow-up meetings between the respective embassies and Pakistani ministries will be scheduled in the coming weeks to operationalize the cooperative frameworks discussed during the presidential meetings.
Diplomatic observers note that these high-level engagements underscore Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach to strengthen bilateral economic partnerships with European and Eurasian nations. As Islamabad continues to pursue macroeconomic stabilization and structural reforms, expanding trade ties and attracting foreign direct investment remain central pillars of the nation’s foreign policy framework. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to coordinate subsequent sectoral dialogues with the Norwegian, Azerbaijani, and Swiss diplomatic missions to implement the agreed-upon collaborative initiatives.
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