ISLAMABAD: Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have ‘seen new heights’ under King Salman, Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi Arabia said on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the King’s accession to the throne on Saturday.
King Salman was given the pledge of allegiance as King of Saudi Arabia on Jan. 23, 2015 after spending more than two and a half years as Crown Prince and Deputy Premier. He was appointed Crown Prince on June 18, 2012.
“Ever since King Salman took the reins, the Kingdom has witnessed mega-development projects across all regions in various economic, education, health, social, transport, communications, industrial, electricity, water and agricultural fields,” Pakistan’s ambassador, Raja Ali Ejaz, said in his message from Riyadh.
He also said the bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had been enhanced in the realms of economic, defense and cultural relations.
Last year, Saudi Arabia agreed to give 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, while it negotiated a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund.
Additionally, during his maiden visit to Pakistan in February this year, crown prince Muhammad bin Salman pledged a $20 billion investment package to Pakistan.
As guardians of the holiest sites in the birthplace of Islam, the Saudi royal family carries vast religious reverence in Pakistan, a mainly Muslim country of 210 million people.
