Curtain Raiser- Visit to Pakistan by HRH Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (15- 17 February 2014)

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud who is the Deputy Prime Minister and also holds the portfolio of Minister for Defence, is scheduled to visit Pakistan from 15 – 17 February, 2014 on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

His Royal Highness would be leading a high level delegation including H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al-Jasser, Minister of Economy and Planning, H.E. Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and H.E. Dr. Nizar Bin Obaid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and important businessmen.

The Crown Prince’s visit is of special significance since it would be his first visit to Pakistan after assuming this position. Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had visited Pakistan in 1998 as Governor of Riyadh.

During the visit, HRH Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud would hold talks with the President and the Prime Minister on bilateral and international matters of mutual interest. Among other senior dignitaries, the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Finance, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Army Staff would be calling on the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

This visit will give a new impetus to the existing fraternal bonds between the two countries. It would provide a good opportunity to explore ways and means for further strengthening cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest particularly in expanding and enhancing investments and trade. In this context, the accompanying Saudi businessmen will meet their Pakistani counterpart.

The two sides will also discuss ways to increase export of Pakistani manpower to Saudi Arabia and to facilitate the Pakistani community residing in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There is a large Pakistani community of approximately 1.5 million in Saudi Arabia which serves as a bridge between the two brotherly countries and plays a positive role in the development of Saudi Arabia as well as Pakistan’s economy through annual remittances of over four billion dollars.

Islamabad
13 February 2014

26/2014