JEDDAH (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Wednesday during his official visit to the Kingdom, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also attended the meeting, which he described as being held in an atmosphere of “warmth, brotherhood, and a shared vision” for stronger bilateral ties.
According to Dar, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s deep-rooted relationship with Saudi Arabia, built on faith, trust, and mutual respect, while both sides explored avenues to expand cooperation across multiple sectors. He added that Saudi Arabia holds a special place for Pakistanis and both nations remain committed to further strengthening this historic partnership.
Upon arrival in Jeddah, PM Shehbaz 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.
The PMO stated that discussions focused on enhancing Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations and reviewing the regional situation. The delegation includes Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, along with other senior officials.
The visit is part of a broader regional tour from April 15 to 18, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye. In Türkiye, the prime minister will attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and is expected to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other global leaders.
The engagements come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where Pakistan has been actively mediating between Iran and the United States, resulting in a fragile ceasefire and initial talks in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to enjoy longstanding ties based on defence cooperation, economic partnership, and shared interests. Recently, Riyadh pledged an additional $3 billion deposit for Pakistan and extended its $5 billion facility for three years. Both countries also strengthened defence collaboration under a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed last year.
