Saudi media minister meets Pakistan’s top civil, military brass

Saudi Minister of Media Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al Awwad, left, called on Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Quraishi in Islamabad on Sept. 8, 2018. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Department)

Federal Minister for Finance Asad Umar, third left, presenting a memento to H.E. Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Media, in Islamabad on Sept. 8, 2018. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Department)

Saudi Minister of Media Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al Awwad, center, visited Pakistan's state run television during his visit. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Department)

• Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad's visit further cements “historic ties”
• Relations between Islamabad and Riyadh are moving beyond security and people-to-people contact, analysts say

ISLAMABAD: After attending the swearing-in ceremony for the 13th president of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister, Dr. Awwad Bin Saleh Al-Awwad, engaged with the country’s top political and military leadership, as part of his three-day visit, on Sunday.
In addition to meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, Al-Awwad also engaged with several government officials and media representatives to discuss the way forward in strengthening bilateral ties.
“The minister conveyed the message of felicitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He also invited the prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia,” Pakistan’s state-run radio said, sharing details of the meeting, on its website.
Al-Awwad also “reaffirmed KSA’s full support to Pakistan in its efforts toward peace and stability,” a statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations, read.
On Saturday, Al-Awwad had called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, with Qureshi “emphasizing on the need to activate all existing institutional mechanisms between the two countries, to take bilateral relations to the next level.”
Qureshi also assured Al-Awwad of Pakistan’s continued support to the Kingdom in realizing its Vision 2030. “He invited Saudi investors to invest in Pakistan, which after completion of the CPEC, will become a market for a billion plus people,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Analysts say the plan is not far-fetched and possible because of Pakistan’s “historic relations with Saudi Arabia.”