PM Sharif, Filed Marshal Munir to visit Saudi Arabia from today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8 at the invitation of the Saudi leadership, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday.

During a weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar along with other federal ministers will be part of the delegation.

He said that Dar will join the delegation after concluding his visit to Jordan, where he attended the Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem.

During the visit, the spokesperson said, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

“The two sides are expected to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral ties, expand strategic cooperation and exchange views on regional and international developments,” he said.

The Foreign Office spokesperson described the visit as another milestone in the longstanding Pakistan-Saudi relationship built on mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood.

He said that the visit has assumed added significance against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf and would further reinforce bilateral cooperation, regional coordination and collaboration in multilateral forums.