ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will lead a high-level delegation on a two-day visit to the State of Qatar on Feb 10, during which the two countries are expected to sign a number of agreements in various fields including a long-term sale-purchase agreement of LNG.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Qatar on Feb 10-11, on the invitation of Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister and Minister of State of Qatar Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa).

The premier's visit, which comes less than a year after the Qatari Emir visited Pakistan in March of 2015, "is a testimony of growing relations between the two brotherly countries", it said.

During the visit, the prime minister will hold meetings with the Emir and his counterpart, and will be called on by senior cabinet ministers of Qatar.

The two sides will participate in wide-ranging delegation-level talks, during which a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the field of health, radio and television, education and research.

The focus of the visit and interaction with the Qatari leadership will be on further enhancement of bilateral relations in various fields, including energy cooperation, trade and investment, defence and increase in employment opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Qatar. Both leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Qatar hosts more than 115,000 Pakistanis, who have been contributing towards the development and prosperity of the country and act as a bridge between the peoples of two brotherly countries, the statement added.

"The two countries enjoy friendly and fraternal relations marked by close cooperation and share perception on various regional and international issues."