Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Riyadh on Wednesday on an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The prime minister is being accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Environment Minister Mosaddiq Malik, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
According to the Foreign Office, the one-day trip aims to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
Bilateral meeting with crown prince
During the visit, PM Shehbaz Sharif will hold a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The talks will cover the entire spectrum of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations, while also addressing regional and global developments of mutual concern.
“The visit is expected to result in the formalisation of cooperation in diverse fields, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to deepen their partnership,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
The Foreign Office noted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy a “historic relationship rooted in shared faith, values and mutual trust.” The visit provides another opportunity for the two sides to consolidate ties and explore new avenues of collaboration.
Since assuming office, PM Shehbaz has traveled to Saudi Arabia multiple times. In October 2024, both countries signed 34 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to boost private sector collaboration and strengthen commercial partnerships.
This year alone, the premier has visited the Kingdom twice—first from March 19–22 to focus on trade and investment, and again on June 5–6 during Eidul Adha.
Recent diplomatic engagements
Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha. The summit was convened after Israeli airstrikes on September 9 targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz praised the crown prince’s leadership in uniting the Muslim Ummah and assured Pakistan’s diplomatic support at the UN Security Council and other multilateral forums, including the OIC.
In response, the Saudi leader appreciated Pakistan’s active role in demonstrating solidarity with Qatar at international platforms.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for the United Kingdom from Saudi Arabia tomorrow. He is expected to spend two days in the UK before proceeding to the United States for the next leg of his foreign visit.
