PM Khan arrives in Madina in first leg of visit

Prime Minister Imran Khan landed in Madinah on Monday where Governor Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud welcomed him. (Photo courtesy: PID)

Pakistan PM visited and prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. (Photo courtesy: PID)

• Khan will attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh
• PM to interact with important business leaders at the conference

ISLAMABAD: As part of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan began his trip from Madinah, following which he was expected to lead the country’s delegation at a key investment conference in Riyadh on Tuesday.
PM Khan and his coterie of officials arrived in Madinah on Monday night where they were received by Governor Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The group prayed together at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah before heading to Riyadh to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdur Razak Dawood are part of the delegation accompanying the prime minister.
In a statement released earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that PM Khan was visiting the Kingdom on the special invitation of King Salman to participate in the prestigious business conference from October 23 to 25. Also known as “Davos in the desert”, the event is expected to host leading businesspersons, investors, corporate giants, representatives of the hi-tech industry and major media outlets on one platform.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s participation in the first day of the conference is aimed at projecting Pakistan’s economic and investment potential and his vision for the country in the five years to come,” the statement added.
“The conference provides an opportunity to interact with important business leaders who are interested in investing in Pakistan.”
As part of his visit, PM Khan is also expected to call upon King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.
The FII conference is now an annual feature in Saudi Arabia. It was held for the first time last year and witnessed the participation of 3,800 people from 90 countries. This year’s conference is also likely to attract a large number of leading figures.
“The prime minister’s participation in the conference signifies our solidarity with the Kingdom in its efforts to become an emerging hub of international business and investment,” the statement concluded.