Arrangements finalised for Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to Pakistan, govt reserves 300 Land Cruisers

ISLAMABAD: Arrangements have been finalised for the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to Pakistan.

According to diplomatic sources, some 123 Saudi Arabian Royal Guards will be on duty for the security of Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) during his visit to the federal capital. The Saudi Crown Prince will arrive in Pakistan on February 16 for a two-day visit, according to the Saudi ambassador, and is expected to stay at the Prime Minister House. 

MbS will land in Islamabad with four jets. His plane will be provided protocol by Pakistan's JF-17 jets upon entering the country's airspace. 

The crown prince will be welcomed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet upon landing, from where he will be taken to the PM House. 

He will also call on the President and Chief of Army Staff. A delegation from the Senate will also call on the crown prince to discuss ways to enhance parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office said. 

The Saudi ministers accompanying the Crown Prince will meet their counterparts to discuss bilateral cooperation in their respective fields. On the sidelines of the visit, businessmen from the two countries will also meet to discuss opportunities of collaboration in the private sector.

During his stay, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will be signing a number of agreements and MoUs related to diverse sectors, including investment, finance, power, renewable energy, internal security, media, culture and sports. The two countries will also discuss ways and means to develop a robust follow-up mechanism to ensure effective implementation and quick progress on tangible areas of cooperation, the Foreign Office said. 

The visit of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is expected to significantly enhance bilateral ties between the two countries in all spheres of cooperation, the statement added. 

The government has reserved some 300 Land Cruisers for the visiting Saudi delegation. A gym has also been set up in the Prime Minister House for the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia.

Security arrangements for the Prime Minister House as well as eight other private hotels in the capital city have been handed over to the Saudi Royal Guards and the Pakistan Army.

MbS will be accompanied by various other Saudi princes and key members of the royal family during his long-planned trip.

Earlier, on Monday, the Saudi Crown Prince's security team reached Pakistan and visited various places across the federal capital to review security arrangements, sources said.

“A team of doctors and a delegation of Saudi media persons who will cover Mohammed bin Salman’s tour have also reached Islamabad,” the sources added.

Earlier, diplomatic sources had informed that a trade deal worth $14 billion would be signed between Pakistan and the Kingdom during the visit. The trade deal would be the biggest foreign investment in the country's history.

In October, last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan had visited Riyadh where he tried to woo potential investors and secure funds to overcome the nation's ongoing balance of payment crisis.