ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) formally announced on Wednesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will arrive in Pakistan for a two-day visit on February 16.
“His Royal Highness, Mohammed bin Salman will visit Pakistan on 16-17 February 2019,” a statement issued by the FO said, adding that the crown prince will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation including members of the Saudi royal family, key ministers, and leading businessmen.
The crown prince will be visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Islamabad is expecting to receive more than $15 billion investments in different sectors including renewable energy and minerals from the Kingdom, the FO said.
“The visit of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to significantly enhance bilateral ties between the two countries in all spheres of cooperation,” the statement read.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have long maintained strong ties and Riyadh has repeatedly come to Islamabad’s financial rescue. Last year, the Kingdom offered Pakistan $3 billion in foreign currency support for a year and a further loan worth up to $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports to help stave off a current account crisis.
To further strengthen the economic and bilateral relationship, Mohammed bin Salman will arrive in Pakistan on Saturday on his first state-level visit since taking up the mantle in April 2017.
He holds important portfolios in the Kingdom’s government, including that of the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and that of the Defense Minister.
“During his stay, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will be signing a number of agreements and MoUs related to diverse sectors, including investment, finance, power, renewable energy, internal security, media, culture and sports,” the FO said.
“On the sidelines of the visit, businessmen of the two countries will also meet to discuss opportunities of collaboration in the private sector,” it said.
The two countries will also discuss ways and means to develop a robust follow-up mechanism to ensure effective implementation and quick progress on tangible areas of cooperation, it said.
During the visit, the crown prince will call on PM Khan, President Dr. Arif Alvi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. A delegation of Pakistan’s Senate will also call on the crown prince to discuss ways to enhance parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
Saudi ministers accompanying the crown prince will meet their counterparts to discuss bilateral cooperation in their respective fields.
Ahead of the crown prince’s visit, his security team and Saudi media representatives have already reached Pakistan. Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has held a number of meetings with relevant security agencies ahead of the visit to ensure fool-proof security for the dignitaries.
“The crown prince’s visit will help project a positive image of Pakistan in the international community …. this will send a message to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful and investment-friendly country,” former ambassador Javed Hafeez told Arab News.
Pakistan’s Board of Investment Chairman Haroon Sharif said that the royal visit is “extremely important” for the country as this will help strengthen the bilateral, economic and trade relationship.
“We are expecting over $10 billion Saudi investment in different sectors including oil refinery, petrochemical complex, renewable energy and minerals,” he told Arab News.
