Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s first foreign trip as premier of the country at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is underway.
While giving details of the three-day high-level official visit, the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday issued a statement, detailing that PM Shehbaz had offered the Friday prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque, following his welcome by the governor of Madina on Thursday in the holy city.
PM Shehbaz’s delegation includes federal ministers Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Asif, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Chaudhry Salik Hussain and member of National Assembly from erstwhile FATA, Mohsin Dawar.
On arrival in Madina, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, accompanied by a delegation, visited Masjid-e-Nabwi and Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) and offered Maghrib prayers.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, during the visit, the prime minister will meet with the Saudi leadership to discuss the development of economic, trade and investment relations, as well as to create maximum employment opportunities for Pakistani manpower in Saudi Arabia. The two sides will also discuss issues of mutual interest, especially on various regional and international issues.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also receive the blessings of Umrah.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are linked by fraternal relations based on a long tradition of mutual trust and understanding, close cooperation and mutual support.
According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, the high-level visits by the two countries are an important feature of this special relationship. The prime minister’s visit will be a source of deepening multilateral relations between the two countries and further strengthening mutual cooperation and partnership.
It may be recalled that on April 16, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman telephoned PM Shehbaz and congratulated him on assuming the office of the prime minister. During the talks, PM Shehbaz pledged to work with the Saudi crown prince to further strengthen bilateral ties. He said that relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would be further expanded, adding that there were historical and fraternal ties between the two countries.
According to a statement issued from the Prime Minister’s House, PM has also invited Prince Muhammad bin Salman to visit Pakistan soon.
