KARACHI:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the relationship between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has remained “unparalleled” for the past seven decades.
In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English, the Prime Minister discussed the deep ties between the two nations, highlighting their unparalleled relationship. He underlined the mutual understanding and shared feelings between the two countries.
Speaking about the recent talks between the representatives of the two countries and the visits of business delegations, the Prime Minister said that the two countries have identified areas of cooperation at the government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) level. “We now have a clear path for investment in the mining and minerals and renewable energy sectors,” he said.
He said that the Pakistani delegation is currently in Riyadh with special focus on promoting investment opportunities in solar energy.
In addition, the Prime Minister highlighted the potential of the agricultural sector and expressed confidence in the joint efforts between Pakistan and KSA to enhance agricultural production. “This includes improvements in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, wheat, sugarcane and cotton,” he added.
The Prime Minister added, “Pakistan is ready to benefit from the experience and expertise of Saudi Arabia in the field of Information Technology.” He expressed confidence that IT cooperation will further integrate the two countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said, “It is a tradition for every head of state elected in Pakistan to make his first visit to the Kingdom and this tradition will continue.”
He further welcomed the visit of the KSA foreign minister to Pakistan with a high-level delegation, adding that both nations concluded a very productive investment conference.
Reading Pakistan sweetens terms to lure Saudi investment
He added that the visit assures the seriousness and sincerity of MBS and King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz to strengthen relations with Pakistan in the areas of investment, trade, culture and youth development.
The Prime Minister hailed MBS’s efforts “backed by his dynamic and visionary leadership in transforming KSA over the past eight years”.
He said, “The crown prince’s vision for 2030 is a model not only for Pakistan but also for many countries of the world.”
Sehbaz hoped that both nations would act like a “family” and deliver results like “never before”.
It was reported last week that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was to visit Pakistan this month, potentially opening doors for vital investment from the “sister country”.
His upcoming visit comes after a long delay. His last trip to Pakistan was in February 2019.
Originally scheduled for late 2022, the visit was postponed and subsequent efforts to finalize new dates were hampered by political uncertainty and elections in Pakistan.
However, sources revealed that the prince has now accepted the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who made two recent visits to Riyadh.
Ahead of the crown prince’s visit, a high-powered Saudi delegation, including prominent businessmen, visited Islamabad, engaging in discussions with their Pakistani counterparts to explore investment opportunities.
The visit was part of the government’s ongoing efforts to attract investment to Saudi Arabia, a key strategy pursued by a civilian-military-led initiative to pull the country out of economic woes.
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