ISLAMABAD — The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Saturday that Saudi CrownPrince Mohammed Bin Salman’s visit to Pakistan has been postponed for now.
Newly appointed FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed thedevelopment, saying the new date for the Saudi crown prince’s visit wouldbe announced soon.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said last month the crown princewould visit Pakistan soon and that he had expressed his willingness tosupport development projects in the country and invest in a $10 billion oilrefinery.
Sharif’s remarks had come days after he concluded a three-day trip to thekingdom during which the two leaders resolved to boost bilateral ties. “He(crown prince) was ready to do anything for [the betterment of] people ofPakistan,” the prime minister had said.
“I want all of you to welcome him warmly because he comes from a brotherlycountry,” PM Shehbaz had said on Salman’s arrival.
The Saudi crown prince had last visited Pakistan in February 2019 duringthe term of former prime minister Imran Khan.
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During his visit, the inaugural session of the Saudi-Pak SupremeCoordination Council was held. The council was formed to put in place ahigh-level institutional mechanism to fast-track decisions in key areas ofbilateral cooperation, and for close monitoring of their implementation.
Under the council, a steering committee and joint working groups were setup at ministerial and senior officials levels to develop frameworks ofcooperation in specific projects and submit recommendations to therespective ministers.
Various Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements were also signedfor investment cooperation during the crown prince’s visit.
