Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday alongside a high-level delegation on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. In a post on X, the PMO said the premier was received by the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mushaal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq. It added that while in Jeddah, PM Shehbaz would meet with the kingdom’s top leadership, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “The meeting will involve discussions on further strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and an exchange of views on the regional situation,” the PMO said. According to the PMO, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi, as well as other senior officials, are also part of the delegation. In its statement, the FO said the visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar were “in the bilateral context”. It added that the premier would meet the leadership there to “discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security”. In Türkiye, he will participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum and present Pakistan’s position in the Leaders’ Panel along with other world leaders, the FO added. “Pakistan’s participation in the forum reflects its continued commitment to constructive diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, and meaningful engagement with the international community on issues of global importance,” the FO statement said. On the sidelines of the forum, PM Shehbaz was “expected to hold bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoan and other key world leaders”. Last month, PM Shehbaz hailed Saudi Arabia for showing “remarkable restraint” during the ongoing hostilities and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation.
PM lands in Saudi Arabia on first leg of regional tour
Published on: April 16, 2026 9:10 AM