Governor of Madina Prince Salman Bin Sultan Al Saud received the prime minister at the airport. The prime minister will stay in Madina and will offer prayers at Masjid-e-Nabwi.

PM Shehbaz travelled on a commercial flight and during the flight mingled with the passengers, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. The passengers took selfies with the prime minister and had a chat with him.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and members of the federal cabinet including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abdul Aleem Khan, Attaullah Tarar and Ahad Cheema accompanied the prime minister.

The visit is Sharif’s first foreign trip since forming a coalition government in February. The two are longtime allies, with the South Asian nation often turning to Riyadh for financial help during its balance of payment crises.

Since it averted a sovereign debt default last summer by securing a $3-billion IMF bailout, Pakistan has been in dire need of financial support from the multilateral lender and friendly countries.

At a press conference in Lahore on Saturday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the trip was the prime minister’s first foreign visit since his election.

The prime minister will also perform Umrah and offer prayers at Masjid-i-Nabwi during his time in the kingdom.

“The prime minister is expected to meet the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and discuss issues of mutual interest. The leaders will also exchange views on regional and global developments,” according to the foreign office statement.

It added that the leadership of both countries was committed to advancing fraternal ties and mutually rewarding economic and investment relations

According to the government, Saudi Arabia has shown interest in acquiring government stakes in Pakistan’s Reko Diq gold and copper mine, which could be a major deal for the $350-billion economy.

Barrick Gold Corp owns a half share in the mine, which is considered one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas.