The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir, held discussions with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday, as stated by the military.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) highlighted that the talks focused on mutual interests and strategies to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
According to the ISPR statement, the esteemed visitor emphasized the enduring and strategic nature of the relationship between the two nations, emphasizing the exploration of multiple avenues to reinforce bilateral ties.
In response, COAS expressed appreciation for the delegation’s visit, affirming the longstanding bond of fraternity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
He emphasized the respect and affection that the people of Pakistan hold for their Saudi counterparts. Additionally, the army chief reiterated full support for the delegation and conveyed his best wishes for mutually beneficial outcomes from the interaction for both countries.
A high-level Saudi delegation, led by FM Faisal, arrived in Pakistan on Monday as part of Pakistan’s efforts to attract investment from Riyadh.
The delegation, comprising key ministers and senior officials, arrived in Pakistan following a visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh earlier this month, where he held comprehensive discussions with the Saudi leadership.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed his senior cabinet ministers to urgently travel to Islamabad to explore potential investment opportunities. Pakistan is attaching great importance to the visit, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar receiving the Saudi delegation at the Noor Khan Air Base.
Islamabad is presenting investment opportunities to Saudi investors in projects like the multi-billion-dollar Reko Diq mine projects and the agricultural sector through the Sindh International Financial Centre (SIFC).
Pakistan is seeking substantial investments to address its external liabilities and avoid frequent recourse to international financial institutions for bailouts. Investments are expected to kickstart economic growth and bolster foreign reserves.
The SIFC aims to attract $70 billion in investments from Gulf countries over the next three to five years to tackle Pakistan’s economic challenges through foreign investment.
