PM Shehbaz departs for Saudi Arabia on three day official visit

Post Views: 56

(Daily Jurat)Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday left for a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and a high-level delegation, according to a post on X by the Government of PakistanThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in an earlier statement said, “PM Shehbaz will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 6–8 August 2026. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, CDF Munir, and other ministers.”

“During the visit, the prime minister will meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The discussions will focus on consolidating Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations as well as exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest,” the ministry said.

The MoFA said the visit reflects Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with Saudi Arabia, anchored in decades of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood.

“Although taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit carries significance beyond the immediate crises and short-term considerations,” the statement added.”The visit will further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reinforce multilateral cooperation,” the ministry said.

According to the MoFA, Dar will join the delegation from Madina Munawwara after a brief stopover following his visit to Jordan for the Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem.During the day, while addressing the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi also confirmed that PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir will undertake an official visit to Saudi Arabia, saying the trip comes as Pakistan continues its diplomatic engagement with regional partners to support de-escalation efforts and a “comprehensive, just and lasting” resolution to conflicts in the Middle East.

Addressing the briefing, He said Pakistan remained actively engaged with regional partners amid continuing instability in the Gulf and the Middle East.

“Pakistan will continue to actively pursue diplomatic engagements and support all sincere efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution to this conflict,” he said.The spokesperson said Oman had “consistently played a very constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability”, adding that Pakistan “deeply appreciates Oman’s valuable contribution and its steadfast efforts to foster de-escalation and peaceful coexistence”.

He said FM Dar had remained in close contact with regional counterparts, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, with discussions covering developments in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb, Palestine and the wider region. Dar also invited his Iranian counterpart to visit Pakistan.