ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to explore new avenues for investment, after a meeting between Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and Prince Fahad Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Tabuk, in Islamabad on Monday night, a statement released by his office read.

Tabuk’s governor arrived in Islamabad on Monday to meet with the country’s leadership. Sanjrani and Prince Fahad exchanged views on matters of mutual interest besides discussing measures to further strengthen trade and economic ties.

According to the statement, Sanjrani said that Pakistan desires to further strengthen bilateral and multi-sector cooperation with Saudi Arabia. “Pakistan highly values its bilateral and cordial relations with Saudi Arabia. We want to further strengthen cooperation through frequent exchanges,” Sanjrani said.

He added that high-level interactions provided an opportunity to discuss important issues including means to further boost bilateral cooperation through investments.

Prince Fahad also met with President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa during the course of his trip.

In recent months, several representatives have engaged in high-level visits between the two countries. Last week, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih visited the port city of Gwadar, in Pakistan’s southern province of Balochistan and announced that Saudi Arabia is expected to start working on a proposed oil refinery, worth more than $10 billion within the next 18 months.