ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday arrived in Abu Dhabi for a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
UAE Minister for Justice Abdullah bin Sultan Al-Nuaimi received the premier and members of his delegation at the airport.
Shehbaz will also meet Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Earlier on Saturday, Shehbaz called on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah in order to advance “economic, trade and investment ties” and create “greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia.”
Pictorial highlights of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.#PakKSAVisit #PMShehbazInKSA pic.twitter.com/XZrT3FcPe3
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) April 30, 2022
Shehbaz had begun his maiden foreign trip to Saudi Arabia along with a delegation, including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Miftah Ismail, Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Asif, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mohsin Dawar and Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, on Thursday to seek financial support from the Kingdom.
“Today I am embarking on a visit to Saudi Arabia to renew & reaffirm our bonds of brotherhood & friendship,” he had said on Twitter prior to leaving Pakistan, adding that the country “has a special place in all our hearts”.
During the meeting with crown prince on Saturday, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest including global and regional issues, a statement from Shehbaz’s office said.
PM Shehbaz thanked the Saudi prince for “a warm welcome and for always standing with Pakistan” promising to take the Pak-Saudi ties to a new and higher level.
The premier also performed Umrah with his delegation and prayed for the security of the country, nation and Muslim Ummah and for the development and prosperity of Pakistan.
Separately, PM Shehbaz also met the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, in Makkah.
During the meeting, the premier affirmed his government’s commitment to promote the interests of Muslim Ummah as a corner-stone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, a statement by the PM Office said.
As the chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Minister, Shehbaz added, Pakistan looked forward to playing a proactive role with regard to the matters of interest and concern to the OIC Member States.
He also thanked Taha for OIC’s consistent and unequivocal support to the Kashmir cause urging him to lead the diplomatic endeavors towards “facilitating a peaceful and lasting solution to Jammu and Kashmir dispute” in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiris.
