Islamabad: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia From April 15–16, 2024, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud led an official ministerial delegation to Pakistan.
Senior representatives from the Saudi Public Investment Fund and Ministry of Energy, as well as the Saudi Ministers of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Industry, and Mineral Resources, Assistant Minister of Investment, and General Secretary of the Saudi Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC) were among the delegation.
The aim of the visit was to expedite discussions on improved bilateral economic cooperation and to follow up on the agreements reached during a recent meeting in Makkah Al Mukarramah between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The delegation paid visits to the Prime Minister, the President, and the Chief of Army Staff. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi Foreign Minister had in-depth discussions with Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar. The “Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Investment Conference,” which was co-chaired by the two foreign ministers, was followed by sector-specific talks on important topics for improved economic cooperation between the two nations.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, received well wishes from President Asif Ali Zardari, who also commended him for his visionary leadership, which has significantly changed the Kingdom. He emphasized the friendly ties that have existed between the two countries for a long time and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to an economic and strategic alliance.
The Saudi team was thanked by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for acting quickly to implement the decisions reached during their meeting with His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman. He praised the two nations’ determination to hasten the first Saudi investments in Pakistan and emphasized that his government’s major goal continues to be supporting Saudi investments in Pakistan.
The two foreign ministers had a lengthy conversation about their respective countries’ bilateral ties and areas of cooperation. They also shared opinions on regional and international events, especially the current state of affairs in the Middle East. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Dar, emphasized the many chances that exist to improve investment, trade, and commercial connections between the two nations.
The “Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Investment Conference,” which the two foreign ministers co-chaired, was the high point of the trip. Foreign Minister Dar expressed optimism at the conference’s opening remarks that Saudi investments in Pakistan will be made possible. In order to expedite investment procedures, the Pakistani side provided thorough explanations on the most current administrative and legal changes implemented within the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework. The Saudi side conveyed great interest in Pakistan’s investment environment and acknowledged SIFC’s participation. The two nations’ corresponding technical teams then spoke about investment suggestions in a variety of industries, including mining, energy, renewable energy, agriculture, information technology, building, human resource development, and exports.
The Saudi Foreign Minister thanked Pakistan for the cordial reception his delegation had received during the Joint Press Stakeout. He highlighted the strong, varied, and complicated familial ties that run between the two countries. The two foreign ministers emphasized the critical need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israeli atrocities there, as well as their concern about the worsening circumstances in the Middle East.
The Saudi Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan is a part of the two fraternal nations’ ongoing high-level interactions. It also illustrates how well-defined the two parties’ strategic vision is and how hard they are trying to improve their economic and strategic collaboration.