MECCA (The Thursday Times) — During a three-day official tour to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation were hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Iftar at the Al-Safa Palace in Mecca. This gathering, which also saw the attendance of the Crown Prince of Bahrain, was a moment for the dignitaries to partake in the breaking of their fast together.
Upon their arrival, the visiting delegation was warmly welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting between the leaders was an opportunity to delve into discussions on enhancing bilateral ties, exploring mutual interests, and furthering Pak-Saudi economic and trade relations.
The Prime Minister’s office released a statement mentioning the crown prince’s special invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz and his delegation for the Iftar, highlighting the significance of the event. Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in the kingdom on April 6 for a scheduled visit that lasted until April 8, accompanied by a team of federal ministers, including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abdul Aleem Khan, Attaullah Tarar, and Ahad Khan Cheema.
The premier and his delegation made a spiritual journey to Makkah from Medina to perform Umrah. In the days leading up to the Iftar, they engaged in religious observances, including Isha prayers and nawafil at the Prophet’s Mosque and paid homage at the Green Dome.
Discussions with the Crown Prince were anticipated to cover a range of projects, with expectations to invite the Saudi PM for a reciprocal visit to Pakistan. The visit was poised to conclude with agreements on various development initiatives and to reinforce bilateral cooperation in agriculture among other sectors. It was also hinted that Saudi Arabia might announce a $1 billion investment in the Reko Diq project.
A statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office reflected on the deep, religious, and cultural bonds between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), underlining the respect held by Pakistanis for King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Both nations are keen on nurturing their fraternal relations and building upon their economic and investment ties.∎
