ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday underscored the need to further strengthen bilateral economic and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). He said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed strong fraternal ties, based on shared faith, culture, tradition, and mutual goodwill that needed to be further expanded for the mutual benefit of the two countries. The President expressed these views while talking to the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Maliky, who called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. He reiterated Pakistan’s desire to further intensify cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including energy, science, technology, agriculture, and culture. The President highlighted that the people and government of Pakistan had a deep respect for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the leadership of Saudi Arabia. He remarked that Pakistan wanted to broaden bilateral relationships in the field of media and culture by building institutional linkages. The President said that the Pakistani Diaspora was contributing to KSA’s socio-economic development and expressed the hope that the Saudi government would ease travel restrictions on Pakistani nationals as the situation of COVID-19 had improved considerably in the Kingdom. He deeply appreciated KSA for supporting Pakistan at difficult times and also lauded its role in promoting unity in the Islamic world as well as its efforts for regional and international peace and security. Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliky underlined the need to further broaden bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and culture for the mutual advantages of the two brotherly countries.