JEDDAH: Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammed Shehbaz Sharif has arrived on Friday in Jeddah, which is his second stop, after he visited Madinah on the first day of his official visit to Saudi Arabia.
Upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Pakistani prime minister was received by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region.
Those who received the Pakistani prime minister also included Dr. Musaed Bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, minister of state, member of the Cabinet; the Mayor of Jeddah Governorate, Saleh bin Ali Al-Turki; Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki; the Director of the Makkah Region Police Major General Saleh Al-Jabri; Director of King Abdulaziz International Airport Issam Nour; Director of the Royal Protocol Office in the Makkah region, Ahmed Abdullah bin Dhafir.
It is noteworthy that the Pakistani Prime Minister has performed here yesterday the Friday prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Agencies add, PM is likely to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to details, Turkish President Erdoğan conveyed a message to PM Shehbaz to meet him. “I would like to meet you,” read the message sent by the president, the sources said.
Currently, the premier is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Chaudhry Salik, and four members of PM Shehbaz Sharif’s personal staff are accompanying the prime minister on his visit.
The prime minister held a brief meeting with Madinah’s governor, where both the leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations.
Taking to Twitter before leaving for Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz had said that his visit will “renew and reaffirm” ties between the two countries. He added that he will hold wide-ranging discussions with the Saudi leadership.
Giving a briefing on the visit, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar, in a statement, had said that the prime minister will be in the kingdom from April 28-30.
During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Saudi leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade and investment ties, and creating greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said.
“The two sides will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the spokesperson said. –Agencies
