Daily Times

Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman Monday said he strongly believes in a bright future of Pakistan which is set to become one of the largest economies in the world by 2030 having the highest gross domestic product growth rate.

“We believe in Pakistan’s future and that it has a huge opportunity. In 2030, Pakistan will be next to two huge economies. One, China will be the largest economy in 2030, and two, India will be the third-largest economy, so Pakistan will definitely benefit from these neighbours,” the crown prince said in his farewell remarks prior to the departure at the Nur Khan Airbase.

He expressed his satisfaction over the growing relationship between the two brotherly countries. About cooperation in different fields, he said it was just the beginning, which will be followed by more development projects in the future.

The crown prince once again reiterated his faith in the country’s leadership. “There is great leadership here to put Pakistan in the right position. We can see it happening,” he said.

Crown prince says Pakistan has potential to become one of the biggest economies by 2030

“Pakistan has huge potential, it can be one of top 20 economies in the future, easily. If the efforts of the leadership, the people of Pakistan, and their allies come together, definitely it can reach that one day,” he said. “So because of that, we believe in Pakistan. Because of our long relations […] we want to be part of that journey and we want to risk our money, to risk our efforts, to start from day one,” he continued. “What we did today, it’s the beginning and we hope in the close future we do more and more partnering with Pakistan,” he concluded.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his gratitude to Crown Prince Salman for issuing prompt directives for the release of over 2,000 Pakistanis jailed in Saudi Arabia. He said he felt immense pleasure over crown prince’s remarks in which he had declared himself as ‘ambassador of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia’.

He said the bilateral relations for the first time had been evolving into other sectors. “It’s just the beginning,” he added. The prime minister told the crown prince to always consider Pakistan as his ‘second home’. “We want you to consider Pakistan your second home. The PM House, where you were staying, rest assured that when you are in Pakistan … [you can] consider it your own house and come and stay there,” he said.

Prince Muhammad responded to the prime minister’s offer by saying that he also feels ‘at home in Pakistan’.

In a lighter vein, The prime minister further said if the crown prince contests elections in Pakistan, he will get more votes than him (prime minister) as he is more popular in Pakistan. “I woke up this morning and when I looked at my mobile phone, I realised that after your statement last night saying that you will be Pakistan’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia that if you stand in elections here, you will get more votes than me.” Later, the prime minister saw off the crown prince at the Nur Khan Airbase at the conclusion of latter’s two-day official visit to Pakistan. The prime minister, leaving aside the protocol, himself drove the Saudi crown prince to the airbase in a sign of warmth and affection between the leadership of two brotherly countries. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, cabinet members, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, top military and civilian officials were present at the airbase to see off the royal dignitary and his delegation.

Published in Daily Times, February 19^th 2019.