Islamabad attracts Saudi investors with incentives

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday offered special privileges to Saudis investing in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock and other key sectors.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always stood by each other in testing times and the people of Pakistan deeply value relations with the Kingdom,” the prime minister said following talks with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
“There is a need to start a new strategic relationship between our two countries to further broaden and deepen the existing cordial relations,” Sharif said.
The prime minister met Prince Saud at his residence and discussed bilateral and regional issues. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia need to enhance bilateral trade by holding regular meetings between its commerce ministries, the premier said.
In response to a question about former Pakistan leader Pervez Musharraf, Prince Saud said: "It is Pakistan’s internal matter. Musharraf’s issue did not come up during our discussions."
Prince Saud said the prospect of investing in Pakistan’s energy sector could be discussed during the next joint economic commission meeting. He pledged that the Saudi Fund for Development would continue to finance Pakistan’s development projects.
Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan remained committed to facilitating an Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, adding that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was in his country’s interests.
“Pakistan supports all efforts aimed at strengthening unity among Islamic countries.”
The premier thanked the Saudi government for helping Pakistani workers affected by Nitaqat regulations.
“The large Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia is a human bridge between the two brotherly countries and will continue to play a vital role in the development of Saudi Arabia.”
He added that skilled human resources could help the Kingdom meet future development requirements.
Speaking to reporters, Prince Saud said his meetings with Sharif, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, and Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the premier on foreign and national security affairs, reflected the deep-rooted historic relations between the two Islamic countries.
“The two sides have agreed to hold regular consultations and coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern.” Prince Saud also said he had conveyed a message from King Abdullah to Hussain.
Speaking about Afghanistan, the prince urged that country's various groups to work together and prevent foreign parties from exploiting its poor security situation.
On Syria, Prince Saud said the irresponsible statements by some international parties would affect the success of the Geneva 2 conference. “I'm afraid these statements are aimed at diverting the conference from implementing the Geneva 1 resolutions.”
The Saudi minister said Syria needs a new interim coalition government with wide-ranging powers that does not include Bashar Assad or key figures in his regime. He also stressed that the new Palestinian-Israeli talks should focus on the final solution to the protracted issue. He expressed doubts that the current negotiations would achieve concrete results in the next nine months because of Israel's intransigence.
Sharif also conveyed his country's prayers and wishes for the good health and long life of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.