Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was given a red-carpet welcome and a guard of honour on Wednesday as he arrived at the Kyrgyz presidential palace, Yntymak Ordo (Palace of Unity), in Bishkek to meet President Sadyr Zhaparov. After signing multiple memorandums of understanding, PM Shehbaz joined President Zhaparov for a joint press briefing, where he expressed his gratitude to the Kyrgyz leadership and its people for the warm reception he received. According to a post by the Government of Pakistan on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz was “warmly received by President Zhaparov” upon his arrival at the venue of the formal welcome reception. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday was given red carpet welcome and a guard of honour as he arrived at Kyrgyzstan presidential palace Yntymak Ordo (Palace of Unity) to meet President Sadyr Zhaparov. As the Prime Minister arrived at the venue of the formal… pic.twitter.com/boKPGIKeA6 — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) September 2, 2026 “The national anthems of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan were played as the two leaders stood at the salute dais,” the government said. It added that “the smartly-turned out contingents of the Kyrgyz armed forces presented a guard of honour”, which was reviewed by the prime minister. PM Shehbaz was in Bishkek to attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The government said both leaders “introduced their respective delegations to each other” before proceeding to their meeting. The meeting was expected to include discussions on “bilateral as well as regional matters”, according to the government. The prime minister's visit to Kyrgyzstan came as the country hosted the SCO heads of state meeting, bringing together leaders from member states of the regional grouping. The formal welcome ceremony at Yntymak Ordo marked the start of Prime Minister Shehbaz's engagement with the Kyrgyz leadership during his visit to Bishkek.