PM may meet Crown Prince during Saudi visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 6 to 8 April 2024, during the last days of Ramazan.

This will be the prime minister’s first foreign visit since his election. He will be accompanied by ministers for foreign affairs, defence; finance, information and broadcasting and economic affairs, the PM media wing in a statement said.

Shehbaz will perform Umrah and offer prayers at the Masjid Nabwi Al-Sharif (SAW). In a statement, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said the PM is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (MBS) and discuss issues of mutual interest. The leaders would also exchange views on regional and global developments. He said the PM will leave for Saudi Arabia on a commercial flight on Saturday.

The PM and members of his delegation will bear the travel expenses themselves.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have longstanding fraternal relations rooted in religious and cultural affinity. The people of Pakistan have the deepest respect and regard for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The leadership of both countries is committed to advancing the fraternal ties and mutually rewarding economic and investment relations.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting regarding law and order situation in the country, the prime minister directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

He also advised devising a comprehensive plan of action for regular audit of security SOPs.

The premier, on the occasion, decided to personally monitor the measures for security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and hold monthly review meetings in this regard.

He reaffirmed the national pledge to continue war against terrorism till elimination of the menace from the country.

The prime minister directed the Interior Ministry to increase collaboration with provinces for further improvement of provincial anti-terrorism departments.

The Interior Ministry gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister regarding the overall peace and security situation of the country and performance of the ministry.

Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, heads of security institutions and other senior officials attended the meeting. Separately, the prime minister, in a message on Al Quds Day on Friday, reiterated Pakistan’s diplomatic and moral support to people of Palestine in their struggle for an independent state of Palestine as Al Quds as its capital.

“We express solidarity with brave brothers and sisters of Palestine and Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and seek mercy of Almighty Allah that Al Quds emerges as capital of an independent state of Palestine to sooth souls of Muslims around the world,” he said. The Al Quds Day is observed on last Friday of every Ramazan to express solidarity with people of Palestine

He said that Pakistan will continue its moral and diplomatic support to the people of Palestine until their liberation from the Zionist occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestine state as per pre-1967 borders.

He said the entire Pakistani nation condemned the Zionist oppression and expressed solidarity with the suffering Palestinian people.

The prime minister said for the past seven decades, Israel had illegally occupied Palestine and Jerusalem and continuously violated international laws and human rights to maintain its occupation, while the international community acted as a silent spectator.

He said that the Israeli occupation and atrocities spanned over the last seven decades but its intensity increased manifolds since October last year.

He observed that so far, 32,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, have been killed and 70,000 injured in Gaza. Hospitals, refugee camps and schools have been deliberately targeted. Despite the UN Security Council’s resolution for ceasefire, the unprovoked bombing of innocent civilians by Israel continues in Gaza.

He reiterated Pakistan’s demand for the international community to play its role to pressure Israel to stop oppression against the Palestinian people.

The prime minister also requested the Muslims in Pakistan and all over the world to specially pray for their Palestinian and Kashmiri brothers and sisters for their salvation from the atrocities.

He also called for prayers for peace, security and prosperity of Pakistan, and its riddance from the economic problems.

Meanwhile, talking to the participants of the Iftar-dinner he hosted in honour of orphaned children and children with special abilities at the PM House, Shehbaz said the government would establish new Danish schools in remote areas of Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and other areas of the country including Islamabad where the children will get state of the art free education, boarding, and food facilities. Besides he also announced to establish state of the art hospitals in Islamabad, AJK and GB. The prime minister, on the occasion, taking keen interest in the children, interacted with them and inquired about their well-being. “I am happy to meet the cute children came from various institutions including SOS and Hassan Academy,” he said, adding that the children were the chief guests while he was their host.During his interaction with the children, the prime minister said he found them very intelligent and they would join different professions in future and will play key role in the country’s development and prosperity. He said no doubt, the parents were the biggest blessings, but the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was also born with no father and his mother passed away when he was only six years old.