ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia is “very keen” to further enhance bilateral economic relations with Pakistan, on the heels of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s two-day visit to the kingdom.
Earlier this week, PM Sharif arrived in Riyadh where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the senior Saudi leadership. Sharif and the crown prince reviewed historical relations between their countries, aspects of bilateral cooperation, and ways to develop it in various fields.
Pakistan’s prime minister had undertaken a visit to the kingdom to attend the sixth edition of the Future Investment Forum.
This handout picture released by Saudi Press Agency shows Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh on October 25, 2022. (SPA)
On Saturday, Dar chaired a meeting with the president and CEOs of various commercial banks in Pakistan. He informed participants of the meeting about PM Sharif’s recent visits to the US and Saudi Arabia.
“He [Dar] also explained that the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia was also very successful and Saudi side is very keen to further enhance our bilateral economic relations,” the Finance Division said in a statement.
Pakistan's finance minister Ishaq Dar (third from right) chairs meeting meeting with the president and CEOs of various commercial banks in Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 29, 2022. (@FinMinistryPak/Twitter)
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial ties with one another. The two Muslim nations have wide-ranging ties in diverse sectors such as economy, trade, defense, energy and others.
Saudi Arabia is also home to over 2.2 million Pakistani expatriates, making the kingdom a huge source of remittances for Pakistan.
During the meeting, Dar credited the government’s prudent economic policies, saying that the country’s economy is “on a firmer footing.”
“He assured that Government’s financial situation is very stable and Government is committed to fulfil its local and international commitments,” the Finance Division said.
