New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who took oath earlier this month, met Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Friday during his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
This marks Sharif's first foreign trip as Pakistan's PM, and his visit to the kingdom will conclude on Saturday. In a tweet, the Pakistani government said both leaders exchanged views on “matters of mutual interest, especially on various regional and international issues”.
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Both leaders reviewed the “fraternal and historical relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia”, according to a Saudi Gazette report. The two leaders went on to discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation and promising opportunities and the ways of developing them in various fields, the report added.
Shehbaz Sharif was received with a guard of honour and an official reception ceremony was held for the Pakistani Prime Minister at the Al-Salam Palace.
"Today I am embarking on a visit to Saudi Arabia to renew & reaffirm our bonds of brotherhood & friendship. I will have wide-ranging discussions with the Saudi leadership. KSA is one of our greatest friends & as Custodian of the Two Holy Places, has a special place in all our hearts,” the Prime Minister had tweeted before the visit.
However, Sharif and his delegation received an embarrassing welcome at the Masjid e Nawabi in Madina.
A viral video has been circulating on social media platforms that showed hundreds of pilgrims raising “chor chor” [thieves] slogans upon seeing the delegation making their way to Masjid-e-Nabawi.
It was reported that police have arrested them for violating sanctity after the incident, reported ANI.