JEDDAH (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday with a high-level delegation as part of an official multi-country visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye from April 15 to 18, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Upon arrival, the premier was received by Prince Saud bin Mushaal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq.
During his stay in Jeddah, PM Shehbaz is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and review the evolving regional situation.
The delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, along with other senior officials.
According to the Foreign Office, the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar will focus on bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security. In Türkiye, the prime minister will attend the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he will present Pakistan’s stance during the Leaders’ Panel alongside global leaders. He is also expected to hold sideline meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other key figures.
The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions following Iran’s strikes targeting US and Israeli-linked sites, and Pakistan’s active mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, which resulted in a fragile ceasefire and initial talks in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to maintain deep strategic ties encompassing defence, economic cooperation, and shared interests. Recently, Riyadh pledged an additional $3 billion deposit for Pakistan and extended its existing $5 billion facility for three years, reflecting continued financial support.
The partnership has also expanded in defence cooperation. Earlier, Saudi authorities confirmed the deployment of Pakistani military personnel and fighter jets under a joint agreement, while both countries signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement last year, committing to collective security in case of external aggression.
