Lahore, April 23 -- Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left for China late on Monday on a five-day "private visit".

The Sharif family is keeping the visit low-profile.

According to the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), its supreme leader left for China by a Chinese Southern Airlines flight on a private visit along with his grandson, Junaid Safdar, and personal staff from the Lahore airport. The PML-N, however, did not disclose Sharif's plans during his five-day stay in China.

Local media says Sharif will undergo a medical check-up in China and hold meetings with some Chinese companies regarding development projects in Punjab, where his daughter Maryam Nawaz is the chief minister. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also reportedly a...