The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, led an official delegation on a visit to Pakistan from April 15th to 16th, 2024. The delegation comprised Saudi Ministers of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Industry and Mineral Resources, Assistant Minister of Investment, General Secretary of the Saudi Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC), and senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The purpose of the visit was to follow up on agreements reached between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, during their recent meeting in Makkah Al Mukarramah, and to expedite discussions on enhanced bilateral economic cooperation.
The delegation met with the President, the Prime Minister, and the Chief of Army Staff. The Saudi Foreign Minister held extensive discussions with Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both Foreign Ministers co-chaired the ‘Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Investment Conference,’ followed by sector-specific discussions on key areas for deepening economic partnership.
President Asif Ali Zardari extended best wishes to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and praised his transformative leadership. He emphasized the enduring friendly relations between the two nations and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to bilateral economic and strategic cooperation.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif commended the Saudi delegation for promptly following up on decisions made during his meeting with Mohammed bin Salman. He affirmed the commitment of both countries to accelerate Saudi investments in Pakistan, highlighting it as a top priority.
The two Foreign Ministers extensively discussed bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and shared perspectives on regional and global developments, including the Middle East situation. Foreign Minister Dar emphasized Pakistan’s vast opportunities for enhancing commercial, trade, and investment ties with Saudi Arabia.
The visit’s focal point was the ‘Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Investment Conference,’ where Foreign Minister Dar expressed confidence in facilitating Saudi investments in Pakistan. The Pakistani side presented recent legal and administrative reforms under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to streamline investment processes, which received appreciation from the Saudi delegation.
During the Joint Press Stakeout, the Saudi Foreign Minister appreciated the warm welcome in Pakistan and emphasized the deep fraternal bonds between the two nations. Both Foreign Ministers expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East, advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israeli actions.
The visit by the Saudi Foreign Minister underscores the routine high-level engagements between the two countries and highlights their shared strategic vision for enhancing economic and strategic cooperation
