LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned to Lahore on Monday after concluding his three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The PM Office Media Wing issued a press statement confirming his departure from the Jeddah International Airport, where Governor Jeddah Prince Saud bin Abdullah Bin Jalawi saw him off.
During his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz held discussions with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of KSA, Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, focusing on strengthening the fraternal relations between the two nations and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration across various sectors.
Accompanied by federal cabinet members and the Punjab chief minister, PM Shehbaz also performed Umrah and offered Nawafil inside the holy Ka’aba, having been granted access inside ‘Baitullah’ as a special gesture. His prayers included blessings for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity, unity of the Muslim Ummah, and global peace. He also prayed for the oppressed Muslims, particularly those in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) highlighted the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and KSA, rooted in religious and cultural affinity, with commitments from both leaderships to advance these ties and foster mutually beneficial economic and investment relations.
Earlier in the day, a joint statement was issued after the meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reaffirming their commitment to expediting the first wave of Saudi Arabia’s investment worth $5 billion in Pakistan.
Emphasis was placed on the kingdom’s supportive role in Pakistan’s economy and the mutual desire to strengthen trade and investment ties, with both parties affirming their commitment to accelerating the investment package discussed previously.
