Pakistan
PM Shehbaz arrives Saudi Arabia on three-day visit
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Saudi Arabia for his three-day visit at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Governor Madinah Faisal bin Salman Al Saud and high-level Saudi officials received the prime minister after he touched down in the kingdom.
The prime minister held a brief meeting with Madinah’s governor, where both the leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Chaudhry Salik, and four members of PM Shehbaz Sharif’s personal staff are accompanying the prime minister on his visit.
Earlier on Thursday, in his video message before embarking on his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were bound by deep-rooted and abiding fraternal ties, which were built on the solid foundations of mutual trust and mutual support.
He said the people of Pakistan held the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the highest esteem. He said, “We are profoundly grateful to Saudi Arabia for its consistent support to Pakistan in its difficult hour. For its part, Pakistan always stood by Saudi Arabia and will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our Saudi Arabian brethern”.
Shehbaz Sharif said the visionary Saudi Arabian leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had worked assiduously to achieve greater progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia. He said, “We take pride in the remarkable development achieved by Saudi Arabia within the framework of Crown Prince’s vision of 2030 which is a transformational initiative”. He also commended the Kingdom’s leadership of the Muslim Ummah and its deep commitment to Muslim causes.
The prime minister said he looked forward to his interactions with the Saudi Arabian leadership to review Pakistan’s multifaceted bilateral cooperation and to take the special relationship to unknown heights. He also conveyed his sincere good wishes to Pakistani expatriates in the Kingdom, who had always contributed enormously to the economic development of Pakistan. He said they were the key partners in further fortifying Pakistan-Saudi Arabian brotherly relations.
Shehbaz Sharif said, “He is delighted that after assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, his first visit abroad is to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This reflects the highest importance that Pakistan attaches to its special relationship with Saudi Arabia, which is historic in nature and strategic in significance.” He also thanked the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for his gracious invitation for the visit.
In the end of his message the Prime Minister chanted “Long live Pakistan-Saudi Brotherhood.”
