Royal audience: PM Nawaz calls on Saudi king

JEDDAH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud at his palace in Jeddah on Friday where they discussed the challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah and called for unity and solidarity. The Saudi monarch prayed for a strong, prosperous and peaceful Pakistan under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. He assured the premier that Riyadh would always stand by Islamabad. Expressing his gratitude, Premier Nawaz stressed that his government attached great importance to its ties with the kingdom and was looking forward to further strengthening these ties. The premier was accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.  Senior Saudi leadership and key aides of the king, including Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Crown Prince and Second Deputy Prime Minister Prince Muqran bin Abdul Aziz and Secretary General of National Security Council Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2014.