Pakistan: Nawaz sets record of foreign tours

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has set a unique record during his tenure. He has become the first Prime Minister of Pakistan to undertake record number of foreign visits in less than a year. According to Foreign Office sources, the PM embarked on 14 foreign visits since assuming the office in June last year when his party, PML-N, came into power. He undertook 13 state visits, first to China, with two trips each to UK, Turkey and China, and the only private visit to Saudi Arabia. The countries the PM visited also include Thailand, Holland, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. He has paid his latest visit to Iran from 11 to 13 May, 2014. Former PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani paid 18 state visits in his tenure spreading over four years and three months, while his successor, Raja Pervez Ashraf, embarked on six foreign tours in nine months.