Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday for a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, aimed at strengthening trade and economic cooperation with the Kingdom.
Upon his arrival at the airport, the Deputy Governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, received the Prime Minister.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson said the Prime Minister’s visit underscores the deep-rooted historical relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and will pave the way for increased mutual understanding, enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, and greater diplomatic coordination on bilateral, regional and global matters.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Radio Pakistan reported.
The two leaders will discuss and deliberate upon ways to boost trade, enhance partnership in key sectors, and facilitate greater economic collaboration, the statement said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the two close regional partners and economic allies signed 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion in October last year. Saudi Arabia is home to over 2 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top destination for remittances for the South Asian country.
The increasing trade volume and diversification of investment sectors reflect the strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, with both countries striving to broaden their commercial collaboration across various industries.
In November last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.
Last month Saudi Arabia hosted a “Made in Pakistan” exhibition to exploit the immense potential of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties and promote business-to-business contacts. About 137 companies from Pakistan attended the event.
As the largest employment market for Pakistani manpower, Saudi Arabia presents growing opportunities for collaboration in human resource development, especially with upcoming international events like the World Expo and FIFA World Cup.
