| Chairs preparatory meeting with regard to his upcoming maiden visit to Saudi Arabia | Desires further strengthening of Pakistan-Saudi relations in diverse fields | PIA asked for booking Boeing 777 for Shehbaz’s upcoming visit
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A Boeing 777 has been demanded from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the upcoming Saudi Arabia visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his family members alongside Ministers and persons from allied parties.
According to details, the Foreign Ministry has requested Boeing 777 from PIA for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia. The MOFA has written a letter to the CEO of PIA, stating that orders have been issued to PIA to keep the Boeing 777 on standby.
Agencies said that during Imran Khan’s tenure, PIA planes were never requested for foreign tours whereas, during the PML-N era, PIA planes were always used for foreign tours. It may be noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on April 27. Agencies said that PM Sharif will perform Umrah during his Saudi Arabia visit. The premier along with a delegation is also expected to hold meetings with the Saudi leadership.
It was learnt that Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maryam Nawaz will also be part of the delegation. Prior to the foreign visit of PM Sharif along with a delegation, the names of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former president Asif Zardari, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Faryal Tapur and other important political personalities have been removed from the Exit Control List (ECL).
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday directed the relevant authorities to formulate recommendations for further strengthening of fraternal ties between Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He also directed for making of recommendations for the promotion of relations, especially in areas of employment, energy, food security and long-term strategic partnership.
The prime minister was chairing a preparatory meeting with regard to his upcoming maiden visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after assuming the office of the prime minister of Pakistan.
It will be the prime minister’s first visit to a foreign country. The visit will prove as a milestone to further enhancing of the bilateral strategic ties between the two brotherly Islamic countries.
The prime minister, during the meeting, said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were tied together in everlasting bonds of Muslim brotherhood. He said that Pakistanis accorded high esteem to these durable relations.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Sajid Hussain Turi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, PML-N MNA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other high officials.
