Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrives in Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has come to Saudi Arabia on an official visit with a high-level government and military delegation for a three-day visit to hold key discussions with the Saudi leadership. During the visit, the bilateral relations, economic partnership, defence cooperation and evolving regional situation will be discussed in great detail, according to government sources.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces, Chief of Army Staff, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi will accompany the Prime Minister, while Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also accompany him to Saudi Arabia.

Upon his arrival in Jeddah, the prime minister was welcomed by Saudi officials, according to an official statement. The PM will also perform Umrah during his visit and visit the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina.

The Foreign Office said that PM Shehbaz Sharif will hold a meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Muhammad bin Salman during which a number of issues of mutual interest, such as trade, investment, energy, defence cooperation and the overall security situation in the region, will be discussed. The two leaders will also exchange their views on regional and international developments.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have traditionally had a close and strategic partnership. Cooperation has occurred between the two countries in several areas in the last few decades, such as in the area of economic cooperation, defence, energy, manpower and diplomatic relations.

Analysts say the trip is being made at a time when the Middle East continues to be the focus of news worldwide. The high-level contacts between the two sides in that regard are a positive development for fostering cooperation, stability and common interests in the region. The possibility of making new decisions in the economic and investment fields at the meetings can have positive effects on bilateral relations, while defence and diplomatic cooperation will also be strengthened, observers say.