Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday invited greater investment by Saudi public and private sector in petroleum, energy, livestock and agriculture sectors, besides stressing the need to address the imbalance of bilateral trade currently tilted towards Saudi Arabia.
In a meeting with Saudi Minister for Information Dr Awwad Bin Saleh Al Awwad, who called on him to convey the greetings and felicitations of Saudi leadership on assuming the office of prime minister, Imran Khan underscored the strong relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia which are based on a durable, broad-based and comprehensive partnership. Expressing satisfaction at the pace of progress in bilateral relations, he called for sustaining the momentum through tangible progress in areas identified for bilateral cooperation.
The Saudi minister expressed solidarity of the Saudi leadership with the government and people of Pakistan.
The prime minister conveyed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz for their sincere wishes.
The Saudi minister also invited Imran Khan to visit the Kingdom.
Later, the Saudi minister called on President Dr Arif Alviat Aiwan-e-Sadr. During the meeting, the president emphasized the need for regular exchange of cultural and media delegations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as there existed vast opportunities for cooperation between the two fraternal countries in the fields of information, culture and tourism.
President Alvi, who took oath of office earlier in the day, welcomed the Saudi dignitary and expressed his deep appreciation for the warm message of felicitations by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz. He observed that the people of Pakistan had great regard and respect for the Kingdom and its leadership. He expressed the hope that Dr Awwad’s visit would help further explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation.He also prayed for the continued peace, progress and prosperity for the people of the Kingdom.
Information Minister Dr Awwad, on behalf of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, invited the president of Pakistan to visit Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi minister arrived in Islamabad on Friday on a two-day visit. He also called on National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, besides having a meeting with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry.
Published in Daily Times, September 10th 2018.
