ISLAMABAD
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that Pakistan wants to transform its historic relations with Saudi Arabia into a deep and diverse strategic partnership.
\n\u201cOur two countries have had this special bond for seven decades now. It is now our earnest desire to transform this relationship into a deep, diverse and mutually beneficial strategic partnership,\u201d Sharif told Arab News in a written interview.
\n\u201cThe very fact that I went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on my first visit abroad, reflects the high importance that Pakistan attaches to its special relationship with Saudi Arabia.\u201d The prime minister said both countries were now working on exploring new and non-conventional areas of bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on promoting economic, trade and investment ties.
\nAs most of the world remains concerned by the situation in Europe, following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, Sharif said that Pakistan enjoys good relations with both countries and hoped that peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv would resume soon.
\n\u201cThe conflict reflects the failure of diplomacy. There is a need for immediate cessation of hostilities, sustained dialogue, and continuous diplomacy,\u201d he added. \u201cA diplomatic solution in accordance with relevant multilateral agreements, international law, and the provisions of the UN Charter is indispensable.\u201d
\nWhile Pakistan has abstained from various UN resolutions condemning the invasion that started in late February, Sharif said it \u201csupports all efforts to provide humanitarian relief to civilians in the affected areas.\u201d
\nIslamabad had dispatched two C-130 aircraft to deliver relief assistance to the people of Ukraine and was considering sending more supplies as a \u201cgesture of solidarity,\u201d he added. \u201cThe conflict was not in the interest of anyone, especially the developing world,\u201d he further said.
\nMeanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif offered the prayers of Jumma-tul-Wida, the last Friday of Ramazan, at the Masjid-e-Nabvi on the second day of his visit.
\nThe prime minister prayed for the peace and prosperity of the country. The members of the prime minister\u2019s delegation also offered the prayers.
\nEarlier, the prime minister twice visited Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) to pay his respects and also offer Nawafil at the holy place.
\nPM Sharif arrived in Madina Munawwara on Thursday on a three-day visit to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Saudi leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade, and investment ties and creating greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia. The two sides will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that Pakistan wants to transform its historic relations with Saudi Arabia into a deep and diverse strategic partnership. \u201cOur two countries have had this special bond for seven decades now. It is now our earnest desire to transform this relationship into a deep, diverse and mutually beneficial […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":258146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[1913,5862,501],"class_list":{"0":"post-258118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-partnership","9":"tag-pm-shahbaz-sharif","10":"tag-saudi-arabia"},"yoast_head":"\n