PR No. 135 Call on the Prime Minister by Minister of Commerce and Investment of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Islamabad: January 17, 2018

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi received today Dr. Majed Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Al-Qasabi is visiting Pakistan as a head of a 35-member Saudi delegation to participate in the 11th Session of Pak-Saudi Joint Ministerial Commission. The Prime Minister welcomed the holding of 11th Session of Pak-Saudi Joint Ministerial Commission, which is expected to enhance and strengthen bilateral economic relations. The substantive decisions taken during the meeting of the Pak-Saudi JMC were also discussed with the Prime Minister. These include establishment of a Working Group for export of Halal food from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia; Saudi investment in the construction of the South-North Gas Pipeline, accelerated negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty and exchange of parliamentary delegations. In the context of export of Pakistani manpower to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi side agreed to set up a training institute in Pakistan to help meet its human resource requirements. A delegation from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development would also be received in Saudi Arabia early next week. Also the Executive Director of NAVTTC has been invited to visit Saudi Arabia. The Saudi side also agreed to visa relaxation and reduction in visa fees for Pakistanis. The Prime Minister underscored that relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were not only important for the Government of Pakistan but that the people of Pakistan have a special affection for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Khadim-e-al-Harmain Al-Sharifain. Dr. Al-Qasabi also emphasized the importance attached by Saudi Arabia to the special relationship with Pakistan. *****

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