Two-day visit: Premier Gilani arrives in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani arrived here on Sunday on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to perform umrah and to discuss ways of further strengthening bilateral ties, and improving regional situation with the Saudi leadership. Gilani was received at the airport by Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Naeem Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and senior Saudi officials. He is scheduled to hold talks with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Ambassador Naeem said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia desired peace and stability in the region and were pursuing a coordinated policy in this regard. He mentioned Saudi appreciation for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, while stating that Gilani would assure King Abdullah of Pakistan’s full support to his initiative of inter-faith dialogue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2011.