Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a high-level Saudi Arabian trade delegation and said Pakistan is keen to expand its relations with the Kingdom into a broad-based economic partnership.
The Saudi delegation, led by Saudi-Pak Joint Business Council Chairman Prince Mansoor bin Muhammad Al Saud, expressed interest in investing in several key sectors, including energy, ports, highways, airports, agriculture and food security.
Prime Minister Sharif received the Saudi delegation during a high-level meeting attended by senior members of the federal cabinet and government officials.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and Minister for Energy Owais Leghari were present from Pakistan.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
Economic partnership with Saudi Arabia
During the meeting, the prime minister said Pakistan wants to transform its brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia into a meaningful economic partnership. He said the visit of the Saudi delegation would help both sides hold discussions and reach agreements in different fields.
PM Shehbaz also conveyed his best wishes to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi delegation shows interest in key sectors
The Saudi delegation expressed its desire to further strengthen ties with Pakistan in several areas. It showed interest in investing in energy projects, outsourcing of ports, highways and airports.
The prime minister suggested that agriculture and food security should also be included among the priority sectors for future cooperation.
Prince Mansoor thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Saudi delegation. The delegation is also expected to meet other Pakistani partners as part of efforts to increase Saudi investment in Pakistan.
Aleem Khan meets Saudi-Pak Business Council chairman
Saudi-Pakistan Business Council Chairman Prince Mansoor also met Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. The two sides held detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest and ways to promote bilateral relations.
Aleem Khan offered investment opportunities to the Saudi Business Council in the construction of motorways and other communications sector projects in Pakistan.
Saudi investors offered motorway projects
The communications minister made a special offer to the Saudi delegation to invest in the M6, M10 and M13 motorway projects.
During the meeting, Karachi Port M10, Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 and Kharian-Rawalpindi M13 motorways were discussed as among the most suitable projects for investment.
The Saudi Business Council expressed interest in investing in these motorway projects.
Aleem Khan said the M6, M10 and M13 projects hold major commercial importance in Pakistan’s communications sector. He said work is under way on new highways and motorways across the country, adding that road networks play a key role in promoting trade activities in the region.
The minister said Pakistan values Saudi Arabia’s participation in important national projects.
Pakistan-Saudi ties described as tested and deep-rooted
Abdul Aleem Khan said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy long-lasting, solid and tested relations. He added that every Pakistani has a religious and deep-rooted attachment to Saudi Arabia.
The minister said Saudi Arabia has always expressed goodwill toward Pakistan and that Saudi investors would be given viable and profitable offers in the country.
Prince Mansoor assured Aleem Khan of all possible cooperation through the platform of the Saudi-Pak Business Council. He said the council could partner with Pakistan in the communications sector.
Abdul Aleem Khan said bilateral relations would further strengthen through the Pak-Saudi Business Council platform. Prince Mansoor also expressed optimism about his visit to Pakistan, saying he was hopeful about its outcomes.
