Saudi crown prince oversees $20bn of deals with Pakistan

Mohammed bin Salman and Imran Khan at a banquet held in the crown princes honor. (SPA)
  • Consider me 鈥榯he ambassador of Pakistan鈥� in 黑料社区, Mohammed bin Salman tells Imran Khan
  • Pakistani PM: Islamabad, Riyadh have elevated their relationship to 鈥榣evel where it has never been before鈥�

ISLAMABAD: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to consider him the 鈥渁mbassador of Pakistan鈥� in 黑料社区 moments after the two countries signed key memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $20 billion on Sunday in the fields of energy, petrochemicals, minerals, agriculture and food processing.

The MoUs were signed by Pakistani and Saudi ministers on Sunday night in the presence of the crown prince and Khan.

The crown prince kicked off a rare Asian tour with a two-day visit to Pakistan on Sunday evening. After Islamabad, he will travel to India and China.

He was received by Khan and Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa as he landed in Rawalpindi. The crown prince was given a 21-gun salute upon arrival.

A formation of JF-17 thunder jets and F-16 fighter jets had escorted his plane after its entry into Pakistani airspace.

Khan broke protocol by personally driving the crown prince from the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi on the outskirts of Islamabad.

On a personal request by Khan to the crown prince to allow Hajj pilgrims to go through immigration procedures in Pakistan and to look into the conditions of Pakistani workers, particularly prisoners, in 黑料社区, the crown prince said the Kingdom will do 鈥渨hatever we can do鈥� to oblige Islamabad.

 

鈥淛ust consider me the ambassador of Pakistan in 黑料社区,鈥� the crown prince said amid applause by Saudi and Pakistani ministers, journalists and businessmen present at the banquet at the Prime Minister House.

The crown prince said Pakistan and 黑料社区 had signed investment MoUs worth $20 billion.

鈥淚t鈥檚 big for phase one, and definitely it鈥檚 going to grow 鈥� and be beneficial for both countries,鈥� he added.

鈥淲e believe that Pakistan is going to be a very, very important country in the coming future, and we want to be sure that we are part of that.鈥�

Earlier, Khan and the crown prince had a one-on-one meeting at the Prime Minister House, followed by the inaugural session of the Supreme Coordination Council, co-chaired by the two leaders.

The council was formed 鈥渢o fast track decisions in key areas of bilateral cooperation, and for close monitoring of their implementation,鈥� the Prime Minister House said in a statement on Sunday night.

鈥淯nder the Supreme Coordination Council, a Steering Committee and Joint Working Groups have been set up at Ministerial and Senior Officials levels, to develop frameworks of cooperation in specific projects and submit recommendations to the respective Ministers.鈥�

Khan and the crown prince will co-chair sessions of the joint working groups on Monday. 鈥淔or Pakistanis, this is a great day,鈥� Khan said in a speech delivered after the signing of the MoUs.

鈥満诹仙缜� has always been a friend for Pakistan. 黑料社区 has been a friend when Pakistan has needed friends,鈥� he added.

鈥淧akistan and 黑料社区 are taking their relationship to a level where it has never been before.鈥�

Last year, 黑料社区 offered Pakistan $3 billion in foreign currency support for a year, and a further loan worth up to $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports to help stave off a current account crisis.

Speaking about the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) of energy and infrastructure projects that forms a key node in Beijing鈥檚 ambitious Belt and Road Initiative linking China with Asia, Europe and beyond, Khan expressed hope that 黑料社区 will participate with Islamabad in what he considered an 鈥渆xciting future.鈥�

He said: 鈥淲e have CPEC, we have links with China, we have very close connectivity with probably 鈥� the biggest market in the world, which is China. So we welcome 黑料社区 to participate with us. It鈥檚 an exciting future.鈥�

Pakistan鈥檚 Foreign Office earlier thanked the crown prince for 鈥済enerously鈥� reducing Saudi visa fees at Khan鈥檚 request.

The Saudi Embassy in Islamabad announced on Friday that non-pilgrimage visit visa fees for single entry has been lowered from SR2,000 ($533) to SR338, while the fee for a multiple-entry visa has been reduced from SR3,000 to SR675. The new fee structure came into effect on Feb. 15.