ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Sharif’s office said, to strengthen bilateral relations between the two longstanding allies.
Sharif’s office earlier on Wednesday said during his stay on June 5 and 6, the Pakistani prime minister will celebrate Eid Al-Adha in the Kingdom and hold a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment and regional security.
Upon arrival in Jeddah, Sharif was received by the Governor of Jeddah, Prince Saud bin Abdullah Jalawi, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and senior diplomatic officials.
“The prime minister and the Pakistani delegation departed from Jeddah to Makkah to perform Umrah,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
In an earlier statement, the PMO said Sharif and the Saudi crown prince will discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and regional peace and security.
Sharif is also expected to express gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their role in de-escalating recent tensions between Pakistan and India.
Last month, following the worst military confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf nations, played a key role in mediating between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, helping to avert a potential war.
The visit also comes amid deepening economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In recent months, the two countries have signed multiple agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment. Notably, Saudi Arabia has committed to a $5 billion investment package to support Pakistan’s economy, which has been grappling with a balance of payments crisis.
Last year, Saudi and Pakistani businessmen signed 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion, covering sectors such as industry, technology, and agriculture. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals is in talks to acquire a 10-20 percent stake in Pakistan’s $9 billion Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, one of the largest of its kind globally.
Defense cooperation is also a key component of the bilateral relationship. The two nations have a history of military collaboration, with Saudi Arabia providing support to Pakistan during times of regional tension and Pakistan training Saudi forces.
Pakistan has a 2.7 million-strong diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which accounts for the highest remittance inflow, a crucial lifeline for the country’s economy.
