PM, Saudi Crown Prince discuss to further increase bilateral economic, trade ties

RIYADH, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman Saturday discussed to further strengthen the bilateral economic, investment and trade ties.

During a meeting at the Royal Palace, they also discussed issues of mutual interest, global and regional issues.

On the occasion, the prime minister was accompanied by the members of his delegation including federal ministers.The prime minister also discussed creation of further job opportunities for the Pakistani manpower.Earlier, upon his arrival at the Palace, the prime minister was warmly welcomed by the crown prince. He was given a guard of honour.

The prime minister is undertaking his three days official visit to Saudi Arabia on the invitation of the Saudi crown prince.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday affirmed his government’s commitment to promoting the interests of Muslim Ummah as a corner-stone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

The prime minister was talking to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, who called on him.

The prime minister thanked the Secretary General for OIC’s consistent and unequivocal support to the Kashmir cause.

He urged the Organization to lead the diplomatic endeavors towards facilitating a peaceful and lasting solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.The prime minister maintained that Pakistan, as the current Chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, was looking forward to playing a proactive role with regard to the matters of interest and concern to the OIC Member States.

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif invited the OIC to launch a concerted effort to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque and other occupied Palestinian territories.

He stressed that Israel must not be allowed to divide the blessed Mosque, temporally and spatially, between the peoples of different faith.

The prime minister underscored the need for provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and emphasized that the OIC should step up its efforts to counter growing Islamophobia at the international level.

The prime minister invited the secretary general to pay a visit to Pakistan which was accepted.

The secretary general reaffirmed the OIC’s support for a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

He expressed resolve to work closely with Pakistan on key issues of concern to the Muslim Ummah, especially Palestine, Afghanistan and Islamophobia.

The secretary general reiterated his felicitations to the prime minister on his recent election and assumption of office.

He also highlighted the important role that Pakistan has always played in the OIC as a founding member.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, ministers Miftah Ismail, Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mohsin Dawar and Maulana Tahir Ashrafi also accompanied the prime minister.Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after wrapping up his three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During his visit to UAE, the prime minister will hold meeting with Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Both sides would discuss the bilateral ties between Pakistan and UAE and other issues of mutual interest.

The prime minsiter along with a delegation had arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.