Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are greeted upon their arrival for a banquet hosted by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdulaziz Bin Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer at Punjab Palace in Islamabad on Sunday. — SPA Faheem Al-Hamid Okaz/Saudi Gazette ISLAMABAD — Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, said here on Sunday that the Kingdom is witnessing developments in the economic, educational, and healthcare fields. Addressing Saudi editors-in-chief and reporters accompanying his delegation to Pakistan, the Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom's prominent role at the Gulf, Arab, Islamic, and international levels. He highlighted the government's efforts to provide Haj and Umrah pilgrims all facilities to perform their rituals with ease and comfort. He said the Two Holy Mosques have seen unprecedented expansion that help accommodate millions of pilgrims. On the second day of his visit to Pakistan, Crown Prince Salman met at his residence at Punjab Palace Pakistan Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif, Speaker of National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, and National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz. They discussed bilateral relations and matters of common concern. Crown Prince will conclude his visit to Pakistan on Monday. He will hold official talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during which both sides will sign a number of agreements between the Saudi Development Fund and its Pakistani counterpart. Cooperation agreements to enhance investment between both countries will also be signed. Meanwhile, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Sunday asked the investors from the Kingdom to focus on Pakistan's promising processing sector. Pakistan's energy sector, especially Thar coal offers great opportunities and matchless returns, said acting President FPCCI Shaukat Ahmed, while speaking to a delegation of businessmen accompanying Crown Prince Salman. “Our relations have grown steadily irrespective of governmental changes and we have reason to believe that our ties would follow a new trajectory”, he added. The Kingdom constitutes nine percent of Pakistan's overseas trade and hosts about two million Pakistanis sending billions of dollars as remittances. Lauding the Saudi assistance in two major hydel power projects, Ahmed invited the Saudi investors to invest in different sectors including energy and processing industry. Despite being leading producer of different food items, only 4 to 5 percent milk, and a fraction of meat, dates and other items are processed, he informed, adding: “We need to collaborate in engineering, medical equipment, services, training sectors”. Shaukat Ahmed said that bilateral trade has been increasing which hit $4.7 billion mark in 2013 with Pakistan's share at $488 million. Pakistan has been exporting textiles, rice, meat, fish, spices, food, vegetables etc, but trade remained heavily tilted towards the brotherly Muslim country, he said. He also drew attention of Saudi investors to the quality and price of local pharmaceutical, cement and other industries stressing on single country exhibitions and frequent exchange of delegations. “All Pakistani sectors are open to foreign investment except specified industries; we ensure equal treatment to local and foreign investors; 100 per cent foreign equity and full remittance of capital, profit and dividends are allowed”, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Saudi-Pakistani Business Council and Head of Delegation Ali Abdullah Ali Al Munajem said that we want to invest heavily in different sectors and facilitate Pakistani investors in the Kingdom. Asking local businessmen to explore the Saudi market, he said that Pakistani items are very popular in the Kingdom. Earlier, Secretary General for Committee for International Trade, Council of Saudi Chambers Engineer Omar A. Bahlaiwa gave a detailed presentation on investment opportunities and future prospects of Saudi Arabia. Deputy Head of Mission Saudi Embassy Jassim M. Al-Khalidi, Commercial Attache Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh Waseem Hayat Bajwa, VP FPCCI Munawar Mughal, President ICCI Shaban Khalid, former President FPCCI Zafar Bakhtawri, members of Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce, officials of Commerce Ministry and others were also present on the occasion.
