ISLAMABAD: At the head of high-level delegation, Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia minister of energy, industry and mineral resources, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow (Wednesday) to give a fresh impetus to further cement bilateral relations in energy sector, a senior official at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia said. In his exclusive chat with Daily Times, the official said the Saudi Arabia minister of energy would discuss with his Pakistani counterparts opportunities and both the dignitaries would explore venues to ink agreements in energy and industry sectors. Islamabad and Riyadh have been enjoying close relations and the two sides have established strategic ties. Saudi Arabia always extends economic cooperation to Pakistan in hour of need. Similarly, remittances by workers from Saudi Arabia play a vital role to strengthen balance of payment of Pakistan. According to a rough estimate, the value of trade between Islamabad and Riyadh is above $2.5 billion. “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—the two brotherly countries—are all set to ink more agreements in the field of energy, industry and petroleum,” the official remarked. He said that the planned visit by Khalid Al-Falih would usher both the countries into a new era of progress and development, which would multiply job opportunities on one hand while on the other the visit would go a long way to minimize Pakistan’s energy woes. In February this year during the two-day 11th Saudi-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan’s minister of commerce invited investors from Saudi Arabia to invest in renewable energy projects, agriculture, livestock and oil exploration sectors. The official said that Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia minister of energy, industry and mineral resources, would hold meetings with his Pakistani counterparts and other senior officials where both the countries would most likely sign various agreements of “huge potential.” Published in Daily Times, May 1st 2018.