Pakistan confers highest civilian award 'Nishan-e-Pakistan' on Saudi crown prince

Amid the international backlash for providing safe haven to terrorists after Pulwama terror attack and Iran attack, Pakistan is hosting the Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed-bin-Salman. On Sunday, the 2 countries signed a slew of investment agreements worth USD 20 billion .

Saudi crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman being felicitated by Pakistan//Image tweeted by @PTIofficial

New Delhi: Pakistan on Monday felicitated the Saudi crown prince with its highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan for his “outstanding support” in strengthening the ties between the two countries. Amid the international backlash for providing safe haven to terrorists after Pulwama terror attack and Iran attack, the isolated country is hosting the Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed-bin-Salman. The highest civilian award was presented by Pakistan President Arif Alvi at a special ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad, in the presence of Prime Minister Imran Khan, members of prince Salman's delegation, diplomats, senior officers and cabinet ministers. According to the citation, the Crown Prince provided "outstanding support for reinvigorating Pak-Saudi bilateral relationship". Salman arrived at the President House in traditional Presidential chariot along with PM Khan. A special contingent of Presidential security guards escorted the chariot. In his address, the Pakistani president said "Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been indispensable partners for a very long time. We have been together for centuries. Our friendship is bound in religion and culture.” "Even though there is geographical distance between us but we are very close in our hearts. The recent visit of the prime minister and your visit has cemented the friendship between us," he said. Thanking Pakistan for the honour, the Saudi crown prince said that the brotherly relationship between the kingdom and Pakistan, focus on the principle of Islamic solidarity. "The founding fathers for both countries established these relations on the principles of truthfulness, common understanding and mutual respect that go back to the first days of the establishment of Pakistan, post-World War II," he said. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a slew of investment agreements worth USD 20 billion which will provide a welcome relief to the teetering economy of the cash-strapped South Asian country. Salman said Saudi "cannot say no to Pakistan, whatever you (Pakistan) want we will do."