Saudi Crown Prince MBS visits Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, widely known as MBS, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday on a two –day visit where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The prince ‘s aircraft  was escorted by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets as it entered country’s airspace.

After landing at Noor Khan Airbase where Khan and his cabinet members as well as senior military commanders and civil officials welcomed him, the prime minister himself drove the guest to the Prime Minister House where he hosted a dinner in his honor.

Speaking on the occasion, the Crown Prince said it was his first visit to Asia as a Crown Prince which he decided to start from Pakistan.

The Saudi Crown Prince expressed the hope that Pakistan would move forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“Pakistan’s future is bright,” the prince said during his speech in which he also promised to invest more in Pakistan apart from $20 billion dollar which he said was first phase of the Saudi investment.

“It was a great day for Pakistanis,”Prime Minsister Imran Khan told the prince and said Saudi Arabia has always been Pakistan’s friend and a brother.

“Saudi leadership and people live in our heats,” the former cricket hero said.

Speaking of his visit to Makkah and Madina, he said the journey to the holy cities was a huge honor for him.

“Saudi Arabia has always stood by us in difficult times,” Khan told MBS.

He said Pakistan has  to do a lot of work in the field of tourism while agreements related to petrochemicals and other fields hold much more importance.

Khan said Islamabad and Riyadh were taking their relations to new heights.  The prime minister also highlighted  the importance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which he said helped Pakistan access big market in the world.,

Imran Khan was of the view that Saudi investment is in the interest of both the countries.

Pakistani prisoners and immigration of Haj pilgrims

The Pakistani prime minister made a personal request to MBS to review the cases of Pakistani laborers who have been languishing in Saud jails.

He also requested the young Saudi prince to make arrangements for carrying out immigration process of Pakistani Haj pilgrims.

The Saudi Crown Prince ensured the Pakistani leader of his cooperation in resolving both the issues.