MBS – architect of new Saudi-Pak bond
John Maxwell once said: “A leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” No exaggeration, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stands true to Maxwell’s stated set of ways by leaders. After decades of intraregional conflicts and chaos, the Crown Prince has put the Arab world on a way that leads to economic development. That is a huge shift from the traditional outlook of an oil-producing region to becoming thriving economies of the world. The present time tells that the engine of growth is Saudi Arabia, leading the way for its neighbours. The magician behind this phenomenal turnaround is, of course, young, dynamic and reformist leader – Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – who has put the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a transformational path to turn into a booming economic force.
The entire Pakistani nation awaits the moment when Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would be landing at Noor Khan Airport on a state visit to Pakistan, leading a huge official delegation. While Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman plans to sign investment agreements and MoUs amounting to $20 billion with Pakistan, a major deal set to be signed is about an oil refinery in Gwadar.
The day would always be remembered as a watershed in the history of Saudi-Pakistan relations as both the governments would ink 10 agreements and MoUs on investment in tourism, technology, food processing, construction, defence production and other sectors. Pakistan also has opened a new vista of opportunities for new investors and Saudi Arabia has become a major investment partner for the last two decades. I will be honoured to witness this historic moment and signing two agreements between the ministries of interior of the two countries.
Pakistan today itself is a thriving economy. Pakistan, under its new leader Imran Khan – the visionary PM– is fast becoming a new destination of foreign investors and tourists. Only in December 2018, Pakistan was ranked number-one attraction for global tourism lovers out of 20 other adventure travel destinations by the British Backpacker Society. The society also considered Pakistan’s northern areas the friendliest countries in the world with mountain scenery that is beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
This is a trust vote for a revolutionised Pakistan, which has adopted an open visa policy, opening Pakistan for tourists and investors coupled with a reform agenda under visionary Imran Khan. The government has changed the country’s traditional outlook of a security state and made it an open and thriving economic state eager to engage its neighbours and distant friends to form a new bond of global and regional peacemakers. Pakistan is playing a key role in salvaging peace and harmony among Middle East states and it is also being acclaimed for its peace manoeuvres in the Middle East and Afghanistan under the peaceful neighbourhood policy of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has been lauded by President Donald Trump and other world leaders for his outright support for the Afghan peace process. Stability and peace in Afghanistan would help peace return to the region. A peaceful Afghanistan would also open new doors to regional and trans-regional trade and investment through greater connectivity between East, Central Asia, Arab World, Africa and Europe.
Pakistan today is a safe, secure and investmentfriendly destination for global tourists and investors under the reformed institutions and a new outlook. It is about time for investors to move into Pakistan and explore investment opportunities here as PM Imran Khan has introduced a policy where the investors would attain maximum benefits and the government’s tax regime and visa policy are made investment-friendly besides ease of doing business ensured.
As I write these lines, I can see from the window of my office the charismatic Faisal Mosque that is an icon of Saudi-Pakistan friendly relations. The mosque is only one of many other projects which portray the long-lasting, time-tested and historic Saudi-Pak rela- tionship. Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are now moving together in pursuit of a renewed partnership that would benefit our people and will pay dividends to generations to come. Pakistanis across country hold most favorable perception of Saudi Arabia and its leadership and the recent public surveys have recorded 95 percent Pakistanis viewing Saudi Arabia favourably. Pakistan, being one of the strongest military powers in the Muslim world, has maintained a unique position to assist Saudi Arabia with its defense needs.
Saudi Arabia has always helped Pakistan whenever needed while Pakistani commandos ended the Grand Mosque Seizure by terrorists in 1979, and restored Saudi administration over the Masjid alHaram. Saudi Arabia is the major host state for overseas Pakistanis as around twenty-four percent Pakistani expatriates live in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the largest expats destination for Pakistan. Over the years, our expats have contributed a lot in transformation of Saudi Arabia into a modern and thriving economy. Long Live Saudi-Pakistan Friendship!