Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah paid a visit to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the Saudi delegation led by Prince Faisal bin Farhan at the prime minister’s office.
President Asif Ali Zardari also held a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister King Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud at the President House in Islamabad.
In the meeting, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reiterated their commitment to enhancing economic cooperation and strengthening their partnership.
During the discussion, Asif Ali emphasized the longstanding and friendly relationship between the two nations. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to elevate the bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia into a robust economic partnership.
Asif Ali also highlighted the deep respect of the Pakistani people towards the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, affirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for Saudi Arabia.
The purpose of the visit includes a meeting with the apex committee of SIFC to finalize investment projects. The Saudi delegation is scheduled to hold discussions with the army chief during their two-day visit to Pakistan.
Comprising officials such as Saudi Minister of Water and Agriculture Eng Abdul Rahman Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim AlKhorayef, and others, the delegation was greeted at the airport by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy, and other cabinet members.
This visit aims to expedite the implementation of agreements made between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman during their recent meeting in Makkah to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
The visit is expected to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation and promote a mutually beneficial economic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan seeks to attract substantial investment from Saudi Arabia through initiatives like the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a forum aimed at streamlining bureaucratic processes hindering foreign investment.
During PM Shehbaz’s recent trip to the Kingdom, he and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman agreed to accelerate the initial phase of a planned $5 billion investment package for Pakistan.
