Schedule of Mohammed Bin Salman's Pakistan visit being 'worked out'

• MBS was reportedly set to arrive in Islamabad on May 19.
• FO spokesperson confident that about visit taking place soon.
  
• Saudi crown prince last visited Pakistan in 2019.

ISLAMABAD: Officials in Riyadh and Islamabad are holding consultations on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Pakistan visit, official sources told Geo News Saturday.

The clarification from the government sources was issued after reports emerged that the high-profile visit had been delayed.

According to the sources, the final date for Muhammad bin Salman’s visit has not been decided yet and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is also in contact with the Saudi authorities in this regard.

Earlier today, sources said that the Saudi crown prince's much-anticipated visit to Pakistan has been deferred.

According to the sources, MBS was slated to arrive in Islamabad on May 19 for two days. However, no schedule was cited regarding his visit.

Commenting on the visit of the Saudi crown prince, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch, on Friday, clarified that details regarding the visit will be made public as soon as a schedule is worked out between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Baloch was confident that the visit would take place soon and it would surely be very valuable as the people of Pakistan are anxiously waiting for the leader from the brotherly country.

The development comes days after Geo News reported about the crown prince's potential visit to Islamabad, as he was expected to arrive between May 10 to 15.

MBS' visit was likely to take place after the recent diplomatic and trade-related engagements between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were at the peak in recent weeks following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the Kingdom in March.

The expected visit of the top dignitary, which has now been delayed, possesses vital importance to Pakistan eyeing big investment from Saudi Arabia in diverse fields.

It would be the first visit of Mohammed Bin Salman to Pakistan in five years as he last time visited the country in February 2019 during the rule of former prime minister Imran Khan.

It would also materialise the understanding between both countries in Makkah for attracting Saudi investments worth $5 billion in Pakistan in the coming days.