ISLAMABAD: The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud who is the Deputy Prime Minister and also holds the portfolio of Minister for Defence, is scheduled to visit Pakistan from February 15 to 17 on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The Crown Prince would be leading a high level delegation including Dr. Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al-Jasser, Minister of Economy and Planning, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Dr. Nizar Bin Obaid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and. important businessmen, said Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam in here weekly press briefing here on Thursday.
Giving details, she said the Crown Prince’s visit is of special significance since it would be his first visit to Pakistan after assuming this position. She said Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had visited Pakistan in 1998 as Governor of Riyadh.
The spokesperson said during the visit, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud would hold talks with the President and the Prime Minister on bilateral and international matters of mutual interest.
Among other senior dignitaries, the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Finance, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Army Staff would be calling on the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during his stay in Pakistan.
The spokesperson said this visit will give a new impetus to the existing fraternal bonds between the two countries and it would provide a good opportunity to explore ways and means for further strengthening cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest particularly in expanding and enhancing investments and trade.
In this context, she said, the accompanying Saudi businessmen will meet their Pakistani counterpart. She said the two sides will also discuss ways to increase export of Pakistani manpower to Saudi Arabia and to facilitate the Pakistani community residing in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
She said there is a large Pakistani community of approximately 1.5 million in Saudi Arabia which serves as a bridge between the two brotherly countries and plays a positive role in the development of Saudi Arabia as well as Pakistan's economy through annual remittances of over four billion dollars.
The Saudi Crown Prince will also discuss regional situation especially the Afghan issue with the Pakistani leadership, she added.
She said Pakistani forces are imparting training to Saudi forces and the Saudi Arabia has also indicated to buy arms from Pakistan. Replying to a question she said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are not cooperating in nuclear technology in any way.
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