Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have expressed their commitment to building a strong partnership and further promoting economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries. President Asif Ali Zardari and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud discussed this during a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The Saudi Foreign Minister was accompanied by a high-powered delegation consisting of the Minister of Water and Agriculture, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Assistant Minister of Investment, the Head of the Saudi Special Committee, and senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Saudi Public Investment Fund. Also, present at the meeting were the Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Privatization and Board of Investment, Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of Petroleum and Water Resources, Mr. Musadik Masood Malik, Minister of Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Foreign Secretary, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, and senior government officials. The President welcomed the delegation and highlighted the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and KSA.
He emphasized that Pakistan wanted to transform the existing ties into a long-term strategic and economic partnership. He also expressed Pakistan’s support for KSA and lauded the courageous and visionary leadership of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of KSA, HRH Muhammad Bin Salman, and the progress being made under Vision 2030. The Saudi Foreign Minister appreciated the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in the development of KSA and conveyed the greetings of the Saudi leadership. The two sides discussed regional dynamics and recent developments in the Middle East, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and end to the Israeli atrocities in Gaza. They also exchanged views on issues of bilateral importance and the challenges being faced by the Muslim Ummah. President Zardari conveyed his best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
