Vienna, Austria, 16 February 2026 – During the official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Muhammad Ishaq Dar to Vienna, the delegation paid a historic visit to the Vienna International Centre.
During the visit, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Pakistan signed the Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) Pakistan 2025–2030, following the high‑level event “Sustainable Development: Pathway for Global Peace and Prosperity.”
The PCP was signed by Muhammad Ishaq Dar, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, in a ceremony witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and by Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy to the Director General, on behalf of UNIDO.
Speaking on behalf of the UNIDO Director General, Yasunaga highlighted the PCP as a strategic instrument to advance Pakistan’s economic transformation, noting the country’s global significance, dynamic youth, strategic location and climate vulnerability. He emphasized that Pakistan’s large youth population underscores the urgent need to expand skills development, strengthen SMEs and accelerate innovation‑led industrial growth.
Recalling the severe impacts of the 2022 floods, which affected 33 million people and generated losses above USD 30 billion, Yasunaga stressed that climate and economic resilience must advance together, calling for rapid expansion of low‑carbon industries.
UNIDO’s cooperation with Pakistan is among its largest globally, with ongoing projects exceeding USD 60 Million and pipeline of more than USD 200 million. More than 50 major projects have been implemented since 1968 to strengthen industrial capacity, modernize value chains and advance clean, resource‑efficient production in Pakistan. These efforts are central to major export sectors such as textiles, which account for around 60% of national exports.
Aligned with Pakistan’s URAAN Pakistan 5E Framework, the PCP prioritizes green industrial growth, resilient infrastructure, modern value chains and inclusive skills ecosystems, while mobilizing investment and advancing technology transfer. “The PCP ensures alignment with national priorities and translates ambition into tangible industrial transformation,” Yasunaga affirmed.
The signing marks a renewed phase of cooperation to support Pakistan’s sustainable and inclusive industrial development.
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Chief, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific