Officials in Riyadh and Islamabad are currently in discussions regarding the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to Pakistan, as per official sources reported by Geo News on Saturday.
The government sources clarified the situation after initial reports suggested a delay in the high-profile visit. They revealed that the final date for Mohammed bin Salman’s visit has yet to be determined, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is actively liaising with Saudi authorities regarding the matter.
Earlier reports indicated a postponement of the Saudi crown prince’s much-anticipated visit to Pakistan. Initially planned for May 19 for a two-day stay, no specific schedule was provided for his arrival.
Addressing inquiries about the visit, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch stated on Friday that details would be disclosed to the public once a schedule is finalized between Islamabad and Riyadh. Baloch expressed confidence that the visit would occur soon, underscoring its significance to Pakistan, as the nation eagerly anticipates the esteemed leader from its brotherly country.
This development follows recent engagements in diplomacy and trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, particularly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the Kingdom in March. The expected visit of Mohammed Bin Salman holds considerable importance for Pakistan, which seeks substantial investments from Saudi Arabia across various sectors.
This visit would mark Mohammed Bin Salman’s first trip to Pakistan in five years, as his last visit was in February 2019 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Additionally, it would solidify the mutual agreement between both nations, forged in Makkah, to attract Saudi investments amounting to $5 billion in Pakistan in the near future.
