Daily Times

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will sign eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, turning their excellent bilateral relations into a strong economic partnership.

“With the visit of Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are going to witness an unprecedented level of closeness based on solid economic integration,” the minister said at a press briefing regarding the upcoming two-day visit of Saudi crown prince to Islamabad from February 16 to17.

The MoUs to be inked during the visit relate to diverse sectors including investment, finance, power, renewable energy, internal security, media, culture and sports.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Haroon Sharif also joined the foreign minister for a comprehensive briefing on the visit of Saudi dignitary, with particular focus on its positive impact on economy. Qureshi said a high-powered Saudi delegation including key ministers and over 20 businessmen from leading companies would hold meetings with their counterparts in Pakistan and discuss potential of bigger investment between the two countries. He said Pak-Saudi Coordination Council would be set up following the visit where Prime Minister Imran Khan would personally lead monitoring of the implementation of MoUs.

FM says no strings attached with Saudi investment in Pakistan

Fawad Chaudhry termed Saudi Arabia a strong and trusted friend of Pakistan and said the Kingdom always helped the latter in testing times. He said this was for the first time after former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that Pakistan had attained immense success at the diplomatic front.

Advisor to Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood said Saudi Arabia had plans for $7 billion investment in power sector for two years besides $2 billion in renewable energy including solar and wind projects. On the Saudi interest to explore Pakistan’s oil refinery sector, he said the feasibility study by their experts on petrochemical complex and hydro cracking could take up to 12 to15 months. He said Pakistan was in high need of refined oil products, for which Saudi Arabia had shown willingness to meet the needs of local oil market with investment of $2 billion for two years in addition to investment in Pakistan’s mining sector.BoI Chairman Haroon Sharif said Saudi Arabia had comprehensive long-term stakes in Pakistan. Following the visit of Saudi crown prince, the BoI would remain in constant touch with their Saudi counterparts on the technical level, he said. He said Saudi Arabia was planning to develop two new cities in the Kingdom and the situation would encourage Pakistani workforce to be accommodated in diverse jobs.

Responding to a question that whether Pakistan would pay the price in return to Saudi investment such as becoming part of military coalition against Yemen, Foreign Minister Qureshi strongly dismissed the notion, saying, “I say it loud and clear that there is no condition attached with Saudi investment.” He said Commander of the Islamic Military Coalition General (r) Raheel Sharif during his meeting with him the other day made it clear that the force was not specific to any country or a particular sect and the suspicion in this regard was not well-counted.

Elaborate plan devised to ensure foolproof security to visiting dignitary

Asked if Saudi investment could be termed as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, he said though it was bilateral, however as Pakistan and China had agreed upon setting up three Special Economic Zones, it could be joined by other countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A red carpet welcome awaits Saudi crown prince upon arrival in Islamabad. Prime Minister Imran Khan along with his cabinet members will receive the visiting dignitary at the airport. A red carpet will be rolled out at the PM Office where the crown prince would be presented a guard of honour.

During his two-day stay, Prince Salman will call on President Dr Arif Alvi and will also meet the prime minister and the chief of army staff, a Foreign Office press release Wednesday said. A delegation of Senate will also call on the crown prince to discuss ways to enhance parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

All the preparations have been put in place to accord royal welcome to the visiting dignitary and his entourage. Prime minister may himself drive the special guest to the Prime Minister House right from the airport, an official said.

A fleet of around 300 SUVs has been arranged for the delegates for transportation and protocol. However, vehicles for the crown prince will be coming from Saudi Arabia. According to the plan, a fleet of JF-17 Thunder jets will escort plane of the crown prince as soon as it enters Pakistan’s airspace.

As much as 1,000 checkpoints will be established on roads and adjoining areas of federal capital and Rawalpindi. All entry points of the federal capital will be scrutinized through special arrangements during the two days of his presence in the country. Most areas in the immediate vicinity of the Red Zone will remain closed.

Islamabad air space will also be closed temporarily during the crown prince’s arrival and departure. The cellular service in Islamabad will remain suspended in certain areas on specific times.

Published in Daily Times, February 14^th 2019.