PM Shehbaz said he looked forward to working closely with the crown prince

Islamabad eyes strategic ties with Riyadh

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan wanted to have a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia.

“Pakistan looks forward to transforming its deep rooted, historic relations with Saudi Arabia into a comprehensive strategic partnership,” PM Shehbaz told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a telephonic conversation on Saturday.

The crown prince congratulated the prime minister on his re-election, a PM Office press release said.

The prime minister thanked the Saudi crown prince for the telephone call as well as the warm message of greetings he had sent immediately after he had assumed office.

Shehbaz, who previously served as prime minister from April 2022 till August 2023, took oath as prime minister for a second term after parliament elected him with a majority vote.

The prime minister also conveyed his sincerest wishes and prayers for the health and well-being of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

He said the people of Pakistan had great love and respect for the Saudi king as well as the crown prince.

He also wished a blessed month of Ramazan to the Saudi leadership as well as the people and prayed that this holy month would bring peace and prosperity to Muslims all over the world.

The prime minister said Pakistan was proud of its historic, deep-rooted and fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the two countries had always stood together through thick and thin.

He lauded Saudi Arabia for its unwavering commitment and support to Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated his invitation to the crown prince to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience and said that the people of Pakistan were waiting to accord him a very warm welcome.

The crown prince thanked the prime minister for his kind sentiments and said that both countries enjoyed close brotherly relations and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support to Pakistan.

Reciprocating his sentiments, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on his X account expressed his gratitude to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin

Salman Al Saud for a telephone call on his re-election.

“Conveyed my sincerest wishes & prayers for the health and well-being of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz,” the prime minister posted.

 

The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to tread a tricky path to economic recovery under Sharif. The South Asian country is currently holding talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a second review of its ongoing $3 billion bailout program that expires next month.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and brotherly relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top destination for remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.

The Kingdom has also frequently bailed Pakistan out in difficult times.