PM Shehbaz arrives in Saudi Arabia to discuss regional situation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday on an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The prime minister and his delegation were warmly received upon arrival by Makkah Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq and senior diplomatic officials.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the prime minister.

During the visit, the PMO said, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on further strengthening the longstanding brotherly ties and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, besides exchanging views on the regional situation and issues of mutual interest.

The prime minister will also perform Umrah during his stay in the Kingdom and visit the Roza e Rasool (SAWW) in Madinah to pay his respects.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the visit reflects the decades-long relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, founded on mutual trust, close cooperation and brotherhood. It added that, while taking place amid the evolving regional situation, the visit is expected to further deepen bilateral relations, expand strategic cooperation, and enhance coordination on regional and international issues.

Earlier, the Foreign Office said Dar would join the delegation from Madinah after concluding his visit to Jordan, where he attended the ministerial meeting on Jerusalem.

During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Crown Prince MbS are expected to discuss ways to further consolidate Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, deepen strategic cooperation, and exchange views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, it said.

The Foreign Office said the visit reflects the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, built on decades of mutual trust, cooperation, and brotherhood.

It added that although the visit comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, it carries significance beyond the immediate regional situation and is expected to reinforce bilateral relations, enhance coordination on regional and international issues, and strengthen multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

On July 30, DPM Dar spoke with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. During the telephonic conversation, both sides exchanged views on regional and international developments.

They also discussed recent developments in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb.