Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Tuesday called on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, wherein the two sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations focused on mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

The delegation also visited the apex committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council and held talks. Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir attended the meeting.

Foreign Ministre Ishaq Dar led the talks with the Saudi delegation.

The delegation was offered venues to invest in PIA, privatization of airports, and a joint venture in two five-star hotels in Islamabad.

The land for the hotels will be owned by CDA and the investment should be made by Saudi Arabia or if they want, they can build and run the hotel themselves.

The delegation was also offered the Matiari Transmission Line and First Women Bank.

The Saudi delegation called the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council a happy future.

Led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the high-powered Saudi delegation arrived here Monday on a two-day visit essentially to expedite follow-up on the understanding reached between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during their recent meeting in Makkah Al Mukarramah to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

Meeting with PM Shehbaz

Recalling his warm and productive meeting with the Saudi crown prince, the prime minister said that the Saudi delegation’s visit after his trip was a manifestation of the strong commitment of both countries to the strengthening of bilateral relations focused on mutually beneficial economic cooperation, according to a PM Office press release.

In this regard, he said that both sides needed to work closely to expedite the first phase of Saudi investments in Pakistan under the new arrangement.

During the meeting, the prime minister expressed his deep appreciation for the Saudi leadership and conveyed his sincerest wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the significance accorded by Pakistan to its longstanding fraternal, economic and strategic relations with Saudi Arabia and said that both countries had always stood together at all times.

He informed the delegation about the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and its initiatives to promote investment in Pakistan. He also highlighted the key role of Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the cooperation of all institutions for the promotion of investment in the country through SIFC.

The Saudi foreign minister expressed gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to his delegation and highlighted that Saudi Arabia attached high importance to its strong and close ties with Pakistan.

He also conveyed the Kingdom’s commitment to an enhanced strategic and economic partnership with Pakistan. The escalating situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories was also discussed.

President Zardari expresses gratitude

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Welcoming the delegation, the president said that Pakistan and KSA enjoyed a long-standing and decades-old relationship and Pakistan wanted to transform the existing ties into a long-term strategic and economic partnership.

The two sides discussed the regional dynamics and recent developments in the Middle East and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and end to the Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Foreign Affairs Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Privatization and Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of Petroleum and Water Resources Musadik Masood Malik, Minister of Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi and senior government officials also attended the meeting.

President Zardari also highlighted that the Government and the people of Pakistan had the highest regard for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and would continue to stand with KSA.

He said that the prosperity of the Islamic world was linked to the progress of KSA.

The president lauded the courageous and visionary leadership of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of KSA Muhammad Bin Salman and the remarkable progress being made under the Vision 2030. He also thanked the leadership of KSA for its support to Pakistan in difficult times.

The Saudi Foreign Minister said that KSA considered its relations with Pakistan very critical and was committed to building a strong partnership with Pakistan. He highlighted that both countries enjoyed strong bonds and had helped each other for decades. He appreciated the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in the development of KSA.

He also conveyed the greetings of Saudi leadership and underlined the importance of Pakistan for the Kingdom. President Zardari also conveyed best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.