ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s prime minister has called for closer cooperation between Saudi Arabia and its cash-strapped Islamic nation to increase Saudi investment in his country, a government statement said Tuesday.
Shehbaz Sharif made his comments during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who arrived in the capital Islamabad on Monday to discuss a range of issues including how to help Pakistan overcome its economic crisis to come up.
Last week, Sharif met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, one of Pakistan’s closest allies and a leading oil supplier to Islamabad. According to Pakistani officials, Prince Mohammed had assured Pakistan that Saudi Arabia would invest $5 billion in Pakistan.
On Monday, Sharif said the visit of Prince Faisal and the high-level delegation demonstrated the “strong commitment of both countries in strengthening bilateral ties aimed at mutually beneficial economic cooperation.”
Prince Faisal also met with President Asif Ali Zardari. He was expected to address a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, later Tuesday.
In July, Saudi Arabia poured $2 billion into Pakistan’s central bank to boost its foreign exchange reserves.
