F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are enjoying historical relations in different fields.
Addressing the dinner ceremony in the honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and his delegation at Prime Minister House in Islamabad tonight, the Prime Minister agreements signed between the two countries including energy, petrochemical, sports, tourism and other sectors are very important for Pakistan.
He thanked Saudi Arabia for commendable assistance and investments in Pakistan and said Saudi Arabia has supported Pakistan in all critical and difficult times.
He said that the investments by the Saudi Arabia in Pakistan are in the interest of both countries.
The Prime Minister requested the Saudi Crown Prince to treat Pakistani Hajj Pilgrims as respected citizen of Saudi Arabia and provide best facilities during the Hajj. He also requested steps may be taken to release three thousand Pakistan citizens from Saudi prisons involved in minor crimes.
Addressing the ceremony, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammad Bin Salman said the first phase of investment worth 20 billion dollars in Pakistan has been completed and the his country will invest further in future.
The prince said that the investment will prove fruitful for both countries.
He said Pakistan is an important friendly country for Saudi Arabia and the relationship and brotherhood between the both countries will be further improved in coming days.
He said that Pakistan will move forward in the leadership of Imran Khan.
He said Pakistan has vast potential in tourism and its will be an attractive country for tourism in future.
He assured the Prime Minister that he will provided all possible cooperation for release of Pakistani Citizens involved in minor crimes and jailed in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad on Sunday evening.
He was warmly received by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Minister for hospitality Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar, members of cabinet, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz were also present among others who greeted the crown prince.
Two children clad in colorful clothes presented a bouquet of flowers to the distinguished guest.
The visiting Crown Prince was given a red carpet welcome and a twenty-one gun salute in his honor.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Prime Minister Imran Khan held a one-on-one meeting for about 20 minutes at the Nur Khan Airbase.
Later, the Prime Minister Imran Khan himself drove the car to take the Saudi Crown Prince to the Prime Minister House who sat on the front passenger seat beside him.
Upon arrival at the Prime Minister House, national anthems of both the countries were played on the occasion. A smartly turned out contingent comprising personnel of all three services presented the visiting dignitary a Guard of Honor. The visiting guest inspected the Guard of Honor.
The Prime Minister introduced the Crown Prince to members of his cabinet.
The Crown Prince shook hands individually with each member. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also introduced to members of Saudi delegation on the occasion.
The Crown Prince participated in the plant sapling ceremony at the Prime Minister House.
Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan had a one-to-one meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman here at the Prime Minister House on Sunday.
The meeting was followed by the inaugural session of Supreme Coordination Council, co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince, a Foreign Office statement said.
The high-powered Supreme Coordination Council was proposed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia in October last year.
The objective to put in place a high level institutional mechanism was to fast track decisions in key areas of bilateral cooperation, and for close monitoring of their implementation.
The Coordination Council includes respective ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Defence Production, Finance, Energy, Petroleum, Water Resources, Information, Culture, Interior, Commerce, Trade and Investment and Human Resources of both countries.
The Council would cover areas under three pillars: political and security, economic, and social and culture.
Under the Supreme Coordination Council, a steering committee and joint working groups have been set up at ministerial and senior officials levels, to develop frameworks of cooperation in specific projects and submit recommendations to the respective ministers.
The functioning of the Supreme Council would be coordinated by the ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.
It would meet annually in Riyadh and Islamabad alternately, the statement said.
