–Sources say Pakistani delegation likely to seek oil on credit from Saudi Arabia and UAE
–Imran Khan lands in Medina barefoot again, uses VVIP aircraft contrary to austerity claims
MEDINA: Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Medina on Tuesday in the first leg of a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) — his first foreign tour after taking oath as Pakistan’s 22nd prime minister.
According to sources, Pakistan is likely to seek economic assistance of more than $2 billion from Saudi Arabia for its oil purchases.
Prime Minister Khan was received at the airport by Medina Governor Shahzada Faisal Bin Salman and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Khan Hasham Bin Siddique.
Later on, PM Khan held a meeting with Faisal Bin Salman and exchanged views.
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The premier is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and the prime minister’s adviser on commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood.
The prime minister and his official delegation paid their respects at the Holy Prophet’s grave and offered evening prayers at the Masjid-e-Nabvi after which they left for Jeddah to attend a reception hosted by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen will also hold a meeting with the premier. Accompanying ministers will meet their counterparts and discuss bilateral cooperation.
Sources said that the Pakistani delegation is hopeful that they will be able to achieve economic assistance from the kingdom. Pakistan can get the same facility from the United Arab Emirates if Saudi Arabia agrees to provide it oil on credit, they said, adding that Pakistan imports oil worth $4.75 billion from UAE annually.
On Wednesday, the prime minister and his delegation will travel to the UAE where they will be received by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two will discuss issues of mutual interest.
IMRAN GOES BAREFOOT:
After his plane landed in Medina, Prime Minister Khan, in an apparent show of respect for the holy land, was seen coming out of the plane wearing only socks on his feet.
Other members of the his delegation were all seen walking with their shoes on. Even the Saudi officials receiving the prime minister, which also included Medina’s governor, were all wearing shoes.
It is pertinent to mention here that PM Khan had walked barefoot the last time he had arrived in Medina with his wife Bushra Imran before the general elections.
Moreover, PM Khan boarded a VVIP plane for the tour, contrary to austerity claims made earlier that he will not use special planes for foreign tours.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had claimed that the prime minister had also surrendered his entitlement to first-class travel tickets for international tours.
Earlier, FM Qureshi also travelled to Afghanistan on his maiden official tour on a special plane.
