Saudi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan delayed by a day
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will sign a number of MOUs in the fields of youth, sports and combatting organsied crimes during Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salaman’s visit.
Dr Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman
islamabad — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Pakistan has been delayed by a day and he will now arrive on Sunday, February 17, the Foreign Office said on Friday.
“The visit programme (itinerary) remains unchanged,” the FO statement added.
Earlier, the preparations had been finalised to give an “unprecedented warm welcome” to the visiting dignitary, who will be received personally by Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet members at the Nur Khan Airbase on Sunday.
Pakistan has rescheduled flights, blocked-off luxury hotels, and — according to one report on Friday — collected 3,500 pigeons and colourful balloons to release during a welcome ceremony the Saudi crown prince.
Islamabad is hoping to sign a raft of investment deals and other agreements during the two-day visit, which begins on Sunday and will include talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and the army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Banners heralding the crown prince were already lining the streets of the capital on Friday, while medai reports said that authorities were trying to catch so many pigeons for a welcome ceremony that they were forced to collect birds from other cities.
Police, the armed forces, and the Saudi Royal Guards will provide security, a senior Islamabad police official told.
The capital’s “red zone”, which houses Parliament House and the Presidency, was to be sealed off, while civil aviation authorities have been told to reschedule flights during the prince’s arrival and departure.
Authorities in the capital said two five-star hotels had been ordered to cancel all advance bookings as the rooms will be reserved for the prince’s entourage.
Earlier in the week local media reported that the crown prince’s personal belongings — including luxury vehicles and his own gym — were flown to Pakistan in two C130 airplanes.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to sign a record investment package with Pakistan, including a $10-billion refinery and oil complex
for the strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan’s foreign office spokesman said Islamabad is seeking to sign a number of other deals, including one “combating organised crime”. Khan has been courting its Gulf allies for months as he seeks to stave off an ongoing balance of payments crisis. —