Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Receives Grand Welcome in Riyadh with Aerial Escort and 21-Gun Salute
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday on a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As the prime minister’s special aircraft entered Saudi airspace, it was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 jets as a gesture of a warm welcome. Upon landing at King Khalid Airport, a 21-gun salute was fired, complemented by smartly turned out contingents of the Saudi armed forces.
Prime Minister Shehbaz was received by Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz. Also present were Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki, Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq, and senior diplomatic officials. Pakistani green crescent flags were prominently displayed throughout the city along the prime minister’s motorcade.
During his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to visit the Royal Diwan at Yamama Palace, where he will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a formal welcome reception. The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting to review all aspects of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations and discuss regional and global developments of mutual interest.
Earlier, onboard the special flight, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin AbdulAziz, for the gracious aerial welcome.
The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Musadik Malik, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
