Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Saudi Arabia today, to attend the Arab Islamic Summit in Riyadh on Monday.
He is expected to call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to stop the ongoing violence in Gaza, which has been widely condemned internationally.
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar will join the PM on this diplomatic trip. Both are expected to engage in discussions with Saudi officials to strengthen bilateral relations. Ishaq Dar has already arrived in Saudi Arabia and has performed Umrah.
The visit comes after a series of engagements by Pakistan’s military leadership. Army Chief General Asim Munir recently held meetings with Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. These discussions focused on enhancing regional security, defense cooperation, and fostering stronger bilateral ties.
In this summit, leaders will discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestine and other pressing issues affecting the Middle East.The summit is regarded as an important platform for addressing the most urgent issues facing the Middle East.
In his speech at the Iqbal Day ceremony in Islamabad yesterday, PM Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that after his visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, he had assured that Pakistan would no longer rely on financial handouts. He also stated that the country’s economic situation is slowly improving.
The PM also spoke about the importance of following the philosophy and teachings of Allama Iqbal, whose poetry has inspired nations to change their fates and shaped the course of history.
