PM Shehbaz to embark on maiden foreign visit to Saudi Arabia tomorrow

On the invitation of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will leave for the kingdom on a three-day official visit on Thursday (tomorrow).

This would be Prime Minister Shehbaz’s first foreign visit since assuming office earlier this month. The premier will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including key members of the cabinet, according to an official statement issued by the PM’s Office on Wednesday.

The Saudi de facto ruler was the first foreign leader to telephone the prime minister and congratulate him for taking charge as the country’s prime minister earlier this month underlining the close relationship between the two countries.

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Saudi Arabia has remained Pakistan’s key economic lifeline as it doled out many bailout packages to help Islamabad deal with the depleting reserves. It is not clear if the new premier would also seek a financial bailout package during his visit as one of the senior PML-N leaders had told The Express Tribune the main purpose of the visit is to repair damage done to the ties with Saudi Arabia during the last government.

During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Saudi leadership, with particular focus on advancing economic, trade and investment ties and creation of greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia. The two sides will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

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Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are bound by fraternal relationship marked by mutual trust and understanding, close cooperation, and an abiding tradition of supporting each other. The people of Pakistan hold the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the highest esteem.

The bilateral relationship is complemented by close mutual collaboration at regional and international fora. Saudi Arabia is a member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

The kingdom is home to more than two million Pakistanis, contributing to the progress, prosperity and economic development of the two brotherly countries.

Regular high-level visits are a key feature of this special relationship. The prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia will impart a strong impetus to deepening bilateral cooperation in diverse fields and further reinforce the growing partnership between the two countries.