PM thanks Saudi for ‘Road to Makkah’ project

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday thanked the Saudi leadership for the ‘Road to Makkah’ project, expressing his satisfaction over the facilitation of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims under this initiative.

The premier was talking to the project team led by Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy.

PM Shehbaz reaffirmed that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy historic fraternal relations, which are marked by common understanding on all issues of mutual interest.

He assured full cooperation and support to the Saudi team for making the `Road to Makkah’ initiative a great success.

Thanking the PM for his assistance to the Saudi team for the effective implementation of the initiative, the Saudi ambassador expressed the desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

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The ‘Road to Makkah’ is a Saudi initiative aimed at the completion of Saudi immigration and customs-related formalities before the departure of the pilgrims to perform Hajj at the Islamabad International Airport.

The Saudi team is in Pakistan for the facilitation of such pilgrims, prior to their departure to the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz also directed to launch the construction work on Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway at the earliest.

He chaired a meeting in this regard and also instructed to initiate construction of Thakot-Raikot section of Karakorum Highway, Babusar Tunnel and Khuzdar-Kuchlak road.

Calling for ensuring transparency in the process of awarding the contract, he also formed a nine-member committee to improve the procurement process.

The committee would comprise federal communications minister, Managing Director of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority and Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council.

PM also instructed to seek the support from Pakistan’s embassies for verification of the international companies, as it was the responsibility of all relevant institutions to save the time and money of the country.