Pakistan's Sharif meets MBS, MBZ, secures $8 bln package
This would mark the first visit for the new Pakistani prime minister to the Gulf countries since his election.
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcoming Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on April 30, 2022. (SPA)
Pakistan, which has been struggling with an economic slump, has inked an $8 billion deal with Saudi Arabia during a visit between new Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown prince Mohammad bin Salman.
According to a joint statement, the two sides emphasized the importance of bolstering ties through the Saudi-Pakistani Supreme Coordination Council (SPC), creating a diversification strategy in intra-trade between Riyadh and Islamabad, in addition to intensifying communication between the private sectors of the two countries. In the meeting, they discussed trade and investment opportunities, with the aim to translate them into tangible partnerships.
Saudi Arabia affirmed its "continuous support" to Pakistan and its economy, "including the discussion of augmenting the $3 billion deposit with the central bank through term extension or otherwise, and exploring options to further enhance the financing of petroleum products and supporting the economic structural reforms for the benefit of Pakistan and its people".
The two sides agreed to "deepen and raise the pace of investment cooperation between the two countries, stimulate partnerships and enable investment opportunities for integration between the private sector in the two countries."
Concerning Yemen, the two sides reiterated their condemnation of what they described as "the Houthi terrorist militia" (Ansar Allah) threat to Saudi security, while seeking a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis.
Read more: Yemen: 124 Saudi violations of truce recorded in the past 24 hours
As for the Palestinian cause, they both stressed the "importance of preserving the status of Al-Quds" and the Islamic identity of the city, while achieving "peace" in accordance with relevant resolutions and "international legitimacy" where Palestinians are guaranteed an "independent state" on the 1967 borders with occupied Al-Quds as the capital.
Read more: Another Palestinian martyr falls by Israeli occupation fire
Regarding Syria, they spoke of the importance of reaching a "political solution to the crisis that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people and preserves Syria’s unity and territorial integrity."
On April 11, the Pakistani parliament announced the election of Shahbaz Sharif as the new prime minister to succeed Imran Khan, who ousted after a strong pressure campaign that led to a vote of no confidence in him.
Visit to the UAE
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shahbaz Sharif at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening. (WAM)
Sharif also discussed with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ways to strengthen relations, in addition to regional and international issues.
The Emirates News Agency reported that Sharif and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi met at Al Shati Palace, without specifying the duration of the first visit.
The two sides discussed the "historic relations of the two countries and ways to strengthen and expand their horizons in various fields, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of common concern", without giving details on those issues.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi stressed his country's keenness to "strengthen relations with the UAE in various fields, and to consult and exchange views with it on developments and developments in the region and the world," according to the agency.
