PM Shehbaz, Saudi Crown Prince MBS hold talks in Riyadh

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday, with both sides expected to sign a multibillion-dollar investment agreement during the visit.

Shehbaz was welcomed with full royal protocol at Qasr Al-Yamamah Palace, where Crown Prince Mohammed personally received him. The Saudi armed forces presented a mounted guard of honour, and a contingent later extended a 21-gun salute.

According to officials, the forthcoming agreement will cover multiple sectors and is expected to mark a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties and expanding economic cooperation. Government buildings in Pakistan were illuminated, while Pakistani and Saudi flags were displayed to mark the occasion.

The prime minister’s delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.

Earlier, Saudi F-15 fighter jets escorted Shehbaz’s aircraft into the kingdom’s airspace. On arrival in Riyadh, he was received by Riyadh’s Deputy Governor Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, and senior officials.

Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the visit would provide an opportunity to consolidate the Pakistan-Saudi partnership and explore new avenues of collaboration.

The talks also covered regional developments. Shehbaz condemned Israel’s recent strike in Doha targeting Hamas negotiators, describing it as an attempt to derail peace efforts in the Middle East. He assured Crown Prince Mohammed of Pakistan’s diplomatic support at the UN and other multilateral forums, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).