KSA supports Pakistan’s efforts to bring stability in region: Saudi minister

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—Saudi Arabia extends visit invitation to PM Khan

—Qadri asks Saudi Arabia to enhance Hajj quota for Pakistanis, ease visa restrictions

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Information Minister Dr Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday and and conveyed that Saudi Arabia fully supports Pakistan’s efforts to bring peace and stability in the region.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry were also present on the occasion.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed bilateral relations.

The Saudi minister also conveyed a message of felicitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and extended an invitation to the PM to visit Saudi Arabia.

Awwad’s meeting with Khan comes a day after he held a meeting with Qureshi during which he conveyed Saudi Arabia’s desire to work with the new government.

Earlier, the Saudi minister called upon the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi.

The visiting minister lauded strong relations between Riyadh and Islamabad and assured Pakistan of full support in its struggle for peace and stability.

In his meeting with Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, the Saudi minister was asked to increase the quota for Pakistani pilgrims by 40-45,000, besides relaxation of visa policy for people who wished to perform Umrah.

Qadri also requested Saudi government to provide land for Pakistan House near the holy sites in both Makkah and Madina.

The Saudi minister assured Haq that his country will increase the quota of pilgrims in next year’s Haj. He also promised to facilitate pilgrims.

Regarding the provision of land, Awwad said that he would pass the request onto Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and hoped that the matter would be decided once Prime Minister Khan visits Saudi Arabia.

On Saturday, the Saudi minister had called upon Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi. In a tweet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal shared that Saudi information minister conveyed Saudi leadership’s desire to work closely with the PTI government to attain “true potential of bilateral relations”.

FM Qureshi stressed for enhanced economic relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The foreign minister also invited Saudi investors to invest in Pakistan.

 

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