News Desk |
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who arrived in Pakistan amid much fanfare and hype on 17th February, has led a delegation to Islamabad that saw deals worth more than $20bn, which will prove vital for domestic growth besides resuscitating the economy.
The Crown Prince also dubbed as MBS, was received on Sunday by Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Nur Khan airbase, where he was accorded a 21-gun salute for his first visit to the country since becoming heir to the throne in 2017. He was driven to the Prime Minister House by PM Khan himself, as is the Premier’s custom for special guests.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in response assured the Prime Minister that Saudi Arabia would do whatever it could to address those issues.
The two leaders held one-on-one talks in Islamabad, followed by the signing of investment deals in the areas of petrochemicals, energy, minerals, sports, and other important sectors. At a state dinner in honor of MBS, PM Khan hailed the strong ties between the two allies, adding: “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are now taking this relationship to a level, which we never had before”.
“A relationship where it will now be investment between the two countries which will mutually benefit from it.” The Crown Prince reiterated PM Khan’s comments.
Read more: MBS must walk geopolitical tightrope during Asian tour
“We believe Pakistan is going to be a very important country in the coming future, and we want to be part of that,” he said. Prime Minister Imran Khan later took to Twitter to praise the comments of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman that he is Pakistan’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia.
PM Imran tweeted: Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman won the hearts of the people of Pakistan when he said “consider me Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia” in response to my asking him to treat the 2.5 mn Pakistani’s working in KSA as his own.”
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman won the hearts of the people of Pakistan when he said “consider me Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia" in response to my asking him to treat the 2.5 mn Pakistani's working in KSA as his own.#CrownPrinceinPakistan pic.twitter.com/Xr0E2EWKrK
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 18, 2019
Speaking at the banquet, Prime Minister Khan had also referred to the problems of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and requested that their immigration should be done in the three big cities of Pakistan.
Read more: Pakistan gets ready to woo Saudi crown prince
He also mentioned the problems faced by Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, whom he considered very close to his heart and special people. He requested the Crown Prince to treat them as their own people. Imran Khan also requested the Crown Prince to take measures for the early release of 3,000 Pakistani prisoners jailed in Saudi Arabia.
Imran Khan also requested the Crown Prince to take measures for the early release of 3,000 Pakistani prisoners jailed in Saudi Arabia.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in response assured the Prime Minister that Saudi Arabia would do whatever it could to address those issues. Consider me Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, he further said.
Read more: MBS’s visit: Govt. directs for crackdown on negative propaganda
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary soon after announced that Crown Prince has ordered the release of 2107 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arab’s jail. He shared the news on social media, saying, “As a sequel to Prime Minister of Pakistan request, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of KSA Mohammad Bin Salman has ordered the immediate release of 2107 Pakistani prisoners Saudi. Jails. #CrownPrinceinPakisatan #KSAPakistanNewEra”
As a sequel to Prime Minister of Pakistan request, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of KSA Mohammad Bin Salman has ordered the immediate release of 2107 Pakistani prisoners Saudi Jails. #CrownPrinceinPakisatan #KSAPakistanNewEra
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 18, 2019