ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Saudi Shoura Council Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Shaikh arrived in Islamabad, Tuesday, with his delegation on a three-day visit to Pakistan.
Leader of the Opposition in Senate Raja Muhammad Zafar ul Haq along with other lawmakers received the delegation at Nur Khan Airbase, Rawalpindi.
The visit is a continuation of the Parliamentary linkage firmed up by visit of Chairman Senate of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last year.
He has been invited by Pakistan’s Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani to further the bilateral relationship between the two countries and boost cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, according to a statement issued by the chairman Senate’s office.
“The visit is a continuation of the Parliamentary linkage firmed up by visit of Chairman Senate of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last year,” the statement added.
During the visit, the visiting Saudi official will hold meetings with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership including President Dr. Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Sanjrani, speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser and army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Other than the high profile engagements, the delegation will also be given guided tours to Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, and Ministry of Ports and Shipping at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) on where officials will brief the visiting delegation on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the development work and future prospects of Gwadar respectively.
A Pakistani delegation led by Sanjrani visited Saudi Arabia earlier in December last year upon the invitation from the chairman of Saudi Shoura Council.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong bilateral ties which the two have recently agreed to deepen through cooperation in diverse fields.
Chairman of Saudi Shoura Council arrives in Islamabad
Chairman of Saudi Shoura Council arrives in Islamabad
- The visit is a continuation of parliamentary ties
- Visiting official expected to meet the country's civilian and military leadership
Pakistan PM leaves for Saudi Arabia on brief visit as Middle East crisis rages on
- The visit comes at a time of increased volatility in the region, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks
- Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed will discuss the ongoing tensions, regional security and bilateral relations, Sharif’s office says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday departed for Saudi Arabia on a brief, hours-long visit, his office said, amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The visit comes at a time of increased volatility in the region, following Unites States-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks on US bases in several Gulf countries as well as commercial and oil infrastructure, raising the spectre of a wider war.
Sharif, expected to discuss regional security and diplomatic coordination with Saudi leaders, is visiting the Kingdom on the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the prime minister’s office.
“Sharif will meet His Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” the former’s office said.
“The meeting between the two leaders will discuss the ongoing tensions in the region, the regional security situation and the bilateral relations between the two countries.”
The development came a day after Bloomberg, citing comments from Sharif’s spokesperson, reported that Pakistan is ready to support Saudi Arabia “no matter what” as tensions escalate across the Middle East following Iranian strikes on Gulf states.
Mosharraf Zaidi told Bloomberg TV Islamabad would come to Riyadh’s aid whenever required, emphasizing the longstanding security partnership between the two countries, which was further strengthened by a mutual defense pact signed in September last year.
There was “no question we might, we will” come to Saudi Arabia’s aid “no matter what and no matter when,” Zaidi said.
“Both countries, even before the defense agreement, have always operated on the principle of being there for the other,” he added.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have historically maintained close military and strategic ties, and the new agreement elevated their security cooperation at a time of heightened regional instability.
Zaidi said Pakistan was also working diplomatically to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the region.
