ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has brought the three countries closer and conveyed a message of unity and peace across the region.
The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, who called on him in Islamabad.
Reaffirming the deep-rooted and fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his warmest regards for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Welcoming the Saudi minister, the prime minister emphasized that the two strategic partners should now focus on strengthening their economic and agricultural cooperation and transforming their longstanding relationship into a stronger trade and investment partnership.
He expressed satisfaction over the constructive engagement between the two countries, particularly progress concerning the export of Pakistani agricultural products to Saudi Arabia.
The two sides also discussed ways to increase agricultural productivity in Pakistan through greater use of modern technology, research and development, and efficient water management.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a delegation of Pakistani agricultural experts would soon visit Riyadh to continue discussions and explore ways to realize the full potential of bilateral cooperation in agriculture and related sectors.
The Saudi minister thanked the prime minister for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of agriculture, water management and food security.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers including Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Atta Tarar, Jam Kamal Khan, Dr. Musadik Malik, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah and Bilal Azhar Kiyani, along with SAPM Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials.
