Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Saudi Arabia on an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing regional developments.
He is scheduled to hold important meetings with Saudi leadership, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan is actively pursuing economic stability and international partnerships.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif landed in Jeddah, where he was received at the Royal Terminal by the Governor of Jeddah at King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Senior diplomatic officials, including Pakistan’s envoy and consul general, were also present to welcome the prime minister upon his arrival.
Key meeting with Saudi leadership
During his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today.
The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation, economic collaboration, and regional peace and security.
Officials say both sides are expected to review ongoing strategic and financial partnerships between the two countries.
Regional tour
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on a four-day regional tour from April 15 to 18, which includes visits to Qatar and Turkey.
He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Atta Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
In Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister will hold meetings with top leadership to discuss trade, investment, and regional stability.
He will later travel to Turkey to attend the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he is also expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other global leaders.
Saudi financial support
The visit comes shortly after Pakistan secured a significant financial boost from Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh has pledged an additional $3 billion deposit to help stabilize Pakistan’s economy amid external financing pressures.
The support is aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s balance of payments and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Saudi Arabia has also agreed to extend an existing $5 billion deposit, further reinforcing financial cooperation between the two countries.
Pakistan is currently facing a $3.5 billion repayment obligation to the United Arab Emirates, which accounts for nearly 18% of the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
As of March 27, Pakistan’s reserves stood at around $16.4 billion.
Under its $7 billion IMF program, the country aims to raise reserves above $18 billion by June, making Saudi financial assistance particularly crucial at this stage.
