ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORTER
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Riyadh on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Prime Minister and his delegation received a warm welcome from Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, and senior diplomatic officials.
The city of Riyadh was adorned with Pakistani flags to mark the Prime Minister’s arrival. A 21-gun salute was presented in his honor, and a smartly turned-out contingent of the Saudi Armed Forces presented a guard of honor to the visiting dignitary.
Earlier, as the Prime Minister’s aircraft entered Saudi airspace, it was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets in a ceremonial welcome. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the warm reception.
Accompanying the Prime Minister on this official visit are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
During his stay, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit the Royal Court at Al-Yamamah Palace, where he will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A formal welcoming ceremony will also be held at the palace.
The two leaders will hold detailed discussions on all aspects of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, including bilateral cooperation and mutual interest in regional and global developments. The visit is expected to result in concrete progress in various sectors of cooperation, reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening the long-standing fraternal ties between the two brotherly nations.
