Saudi foreign minister arrives in Pakistan for 2-day visit

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Monday for a two-day official visit.

Joined by a high-level delegation, the Saudi foreign minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, state-run Pakistan Television reported.

He is expected to hold meetings with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, and other government officials, Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The visit is taking place “essentially” to expedite the follow-up on an “understanding” reached between the Pakistani prime minister and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, during their meeting in Mecca earlier this months to enhance bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Saudi diplomat will also attend a meeting of Islamabad’s top foreign investment body to discuss ways for implementation of an already-agreed $5 billion Saudi investment in Pakistan.

The Saudi delegation consists of Minister of Water and Agriculture, Abdul Rahman Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Ibrahim AlKhorayef, Deputy Minister of Investment, Badr AlBadr, Head of Saudi Special Committee, Mohammad Mazyed Al Towaijri, and senior officials from Ministry of Energy and Saudi Fund for General Investments.