ISLAMABAD: Jordan’s King Abdullah II arrived in Pakistan on a two-day state visit on Saturday, receiving a welcome from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the two countries move to elevate strategic ties and Islamabad prepares to confer its highest civilian honor on the visiting monarch.

Pakistan and Jordan have strong relations and were part of discussions for President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates.

During his visit, the Jordanian King is scheduled to meet with the top Pakistani officials and discuss the full range of bilateral relations between the two countries, according to an official statement.

“The full range of bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries will be discussed,” the foreign office said a day earlier. “A special investiture ceremony to confer the highest civilian award upon His Majesty will also take place at Aiwan-e-Sadr [President’s House].”

Another statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday said the Jordanian King had arrived in Pakistan on Sharif’s invitation.

“King Abdullah II’s visit to Pakistan reflects the long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Jordan,” it added. “This visit will further strengthen the political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.”

Jordan was the fifth state in the world to recognize Pakistan, with formal diplomatic relations between the two countries established in August 1948.

Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Jordan stood at $46.58 million during the year 2023, according to the Pakistani embassy in Amman. The Arab state is also home to around 16,000 Pakistani nationals.