By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks on Monday with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, on the eve of a major global investment forum, in a meeting that underscored the deepening economic and strategic partnership between the two nations.
The encounter, described by the state broadcaster as unfolding in a “cordial atmosphere,” took place ahead of the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative, or FII9, which opens Tuesday under the theme “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.”
Sharif, who arrived in the Saudi capital earlier in the day at the personal invitation of the crown prince, led a high-level delegation that included some of Pakistan’s most senior officials. “Matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting,” a statement posted on the social media platform X by PTV News said. “The joint statement of the meeting regarding discussions on promoting trade, investment, and cooperation in various sectors between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will be issued shortly.”
Those in attendance included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar; Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb; Information Minister Attaullah Tarar; and the prime minister’s aides, Tariq Fatemi and Bilal Bin Saqib, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
On the Saudi side, senior cabinet members joined, along with Pakistan’s chief of army staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Sharif was received upon landing at King Khalid International Airport by Riyadh’s deputy governor, Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz; Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki; and Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq. The prime minister had departed from Lahore earlier Monday. The visit builds on an invitation extended in August by Al-Malki, on behalf of the crown prince, for Sharif to attend the FII. The annual gathering draws global leaders, investors, policymakers and innovators to grapple with pressing issues, including innovation, sustainability, economic inclusion and geopolitical shifts.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office outlined the agenda in a statement released Sunday, saying Sharif would “engage with the Saudi leadership to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in the trade, investment, energy, and human resource sectors.” The discussions, it added, “will also cover regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.”
Beyond the bilateral meeting, Sharif is scheduled to hold sideline conversations with leaders from other participating countries and heads of international organisations. The Foreign Office emphasised that these exchanges would spotlight “Pakistan’s investment potential and its readiness to pursue collaborations in sustainable development, in line with the ‘Think, Exchange, and Act’ model.”
The timing of the visit reflects Pakistan’s urgent push to attract foreign investment amid economic challenges, including high inflation and debt pressures. Saudi Arabia has long been a vital ally, providing billions in loans, oil on deferred payments and deposits to bolster Pakistan’s foreign reserves. Recent months have seen heightened momentum, with Riyadh signalling interest in projects ranging from energy infrastructure to mining.
For Saudi Arabia, the FII serves as a platform to project its Vision 2030 ambitions, diversifying its oil-dependent economy through megaprojects and international partnerships.
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