Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia during a phone call.
- Pakistan will continue efforts to defuse regional tensions, PMO statement said.
- The call also focused on mutual support and cooperation in regional peace and stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently held a phone call with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
During the call, PM Sharif condemned the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi’s civilian and economic infrastructure, expressing alarm over the potential disruption to regional peace and global economic stability.
The premier highlighted the ongoing efforts of Pakistan, alongside Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, to defuse tensions in the region.
PM Sharif also praised the Saudi crown prince for his leadership during the crisis, stating that the two leaders agreed to continue close contact and look forward to meeting each other soon.
The call underscored Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia and the custodian of the two holy mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, meanwhile, held a series of bilateral meetings with regional counterparts at the Belt and Road Summit, focusing on trade, connectivity, food security, and emerging technologies.
Khan met with his counterparts from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Qatar, as well as the secretary general of the International Organisation for Mediation (IoMed), to explore ways to expand bilateral trade and strengthen regional connectivity.
During his meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister for Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, both ministers discussed deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including the expansion and greater utilisation of Pakistan’s first-ever Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka.
The discussions also covered the importance of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with Khan highlighting the role of digitalisation in economic development and the need for developing countries to explore emerging technologies while addressing associated challenges.
