ISLAMABAD: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif will arrive in Islamabad on Monday, today, with the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners at the top of the talks' agenda, the Pakistani interior minister has said.
Last month, Saudi Arabia ratified agreements that would help both countries streamline the repatriation process as well as other measures to counter human and drug trafficking.
The treaties were first signed during Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to the kingdom in May last year.
"Tomorrow, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif is arriving on the invitation of the interior ministry," Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said at a press conference. "And this for the interior ministry, this country and repatriation of our prisoners in Saudi Arabia will be a good decision."
"We are inviting interior ministers of different countries where our people are in prisons. It is as per instructions of the prime minister."
The minister said the government was making all efforts to bring back Pakistanis jailed in brotherly Muslim countries for minor offences and unable to afford fines.
"We are taking this to the cabinet that people who are languishing in our brotherly Islamic countries due to fines, their release should be managed by paying their fines," he said.
Ahmed said Pakistan had already secured the release of many prisoners from Turkey, adding that officials from Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait would also be visiting the country soon.
