Islamabad,Feb 17 (APP):Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday said with the signing of 20 billion dollars memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the first phase, the bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries would further grow in the coming months and years.
He referred to the historic and deep relationship between the two countries and said those would further strengthen.
The Crown Prince was speaking at a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Imran Khan here at the PM House, in his honour, who arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit.
He said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) desired an economically and politically strong Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan welcoming the Saudi Crown Prince, said it was a great day for the Pakistani people.
He said Saudi Arabia and its people lived in the hearts of Pakistanis not only because Makkah and Madina were in Saudi Arabia but owing to the fact that the Kingdom had always been supporting Pakistan in the hour of need. “We value it much.”
The Prime Minister said with the last six months in power, the greatest moment for him was to visit Makkah and Madina where he was allowed to go inside Makkah and Madina and for which he was personally thankful to the Kingdom.
He also thanked the Saudi Crown Prince for the financial support the Kingdom had extended recently to Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said the signing of MoUs between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which enjoyed historic relations, and investments in diverse areas, including minerals and tourism sectors, would be mutually beneficial for the two brotherly nations.
He referred to his conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince as he drove him from the Nur Khan Air Base to the PM House and said Prince Mohammed had a passion for tourism.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan with the world’s highest peaks had great tourism potential, particularly in mountain tourism.
He said with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan welcomed Saudi Arabia to participate in the regional development.
Prime Minister Imran Khan referred to the problems of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and requested that their immigration should be done in the three big cities of Pakistan.
He also mentioned the problems faced by Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, whom he considered very close to his heart and special people. He requested the Crown Prince to treat them as their own people.
Imran Khan also requested the Crown Prince to take measures for the early release of 3,000 Pakistani prisoners jailed in Saudi Arabia.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in response assured the Prime Minister that Saudi Arabia would do whatever it could to address those issues.
The dinner, besides the Saudi delegation, was also attended by cabinet members, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and senior civil and military officials.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed seven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements in diverse fields, including energy, power, petrochemical, mineral resources and sports, to further enhance their cooperation.
The signing ceremony held at the Prime Minister House was witnessed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Finance Asad Umar, Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan, Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza signed the documents on parts of their respective governments.
The MoUs and agreements included technical cooperation programme in the field of standardizations/quality control, fame work agreement between the Government of Pakistan and Saudi Fund for Development, draft MoU on the development of renewable energy products, MoU of study investment opportunities for the establishment of an integrated complex (refinery petrochemical plant), MoU in the field of mineral resources, framework for power generation, and agreement for cooperation in the field of youth and sports.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Chairman Board of Investment Haroon Sharif, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Saudi ministers and other members of the delegation were also present during the ceremony.
