Dubai: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has departed on Monday from Pakistan after completing his historic two-day-visit to Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa saw off Prince Mohammad at Nur Khan Airbase.
Prince Mohammad and Prime Minister Imran addressed a joint press conference at the Nur Khan Airbase before his departure.
Imran thanked the Crown Prince on his visit hoping that he would stay longer next time "so I can show you the beauty of Pakistan and the northern areas."
Imran also thanked Prince Mohammad for his announcement of releasing more than 2,000 Pakistani prisoners from Saudi jails with immediate effect.
"I woke up this morning and when I looked at my mobile phone, I realised ─ after your statement last night saying that you would be Pakistan's ambassador in Saudi Arabia ─ that if you stand in elections here, you would get more votes than me," Imran said on a lighter note, addressing the Crown Prince who was standing at a podium to his right.
"You are extremely popular," he added.
Pakistan's future
Prince Mohammad Bin Salman said his country believed in Pakistan’s future. “In 2030 Pakistan will be next to China and India’s economy.” He added the leadership and people of Pakistan can take Pakistan to great economic heights.
“Whatever we did was the beginning and I hope in the near future we do more.”
Nishan-e-Pakistan conferred on Saudi Crown Prince
President Dr Arif Alvi has conferred the Pakistan's highest civil award "Nishan-e-Pakistan" on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman during a ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.
The investiture ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, federal ministers, three Services Chiefs, Chairman Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee, members of the Saudi delegation and senior civil and military officials.
The country's highest civil award was conferred on the Saudi Crown Prince in recognition of his efforts and contributions towards enhancing the bilateral brotherly and traditional ties between the two countries.
Earlier upon arrival at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Alvi warmly received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad. The Saudi Crown Prince, along with Prime Minister Imran Khan, reached Aiwan-e-Sadr, riding in traditional horse-drawn carriage, escorted by the President's Guards.
The President received the visiting dignitary at the entrance of Aiwan-e-Sadr along with Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and other high civil and military officials.
Traditionally attired troupes, belonging to different parts of the country, presented dances to welcome the Saudi delegation on both sides of the avenue.
2,107 Pakistani prisoners released from Saudi jails
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has ordered the immediate release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners from jails in Saudi Arabia.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Monday that Crown Prince Salman has ordered the release of prisoners following a request from Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He said that cases of other Pakistani prisoners would also be reviewed.
The minister tweeted: “As a sequel to Prime Minister of Pakistan [Imran Khan’s] request, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman has ordered the immediate release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners from Saudi jails.”
The Crown Prince arrived in Islamabad on a two-day official visit on Sunday.
On Sunday evening, speaking at the banquet hosted in honour of Crown Prince Salman, Imran referred to the problems of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and requested that their immigration should be done in the three big cities of Pakistan.
He also mentioned the problems faced by Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia, whom he considered very close to his heart and ‘special people’.
The prime minister on Monday praised Salman on his assurance in this regard.
“Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman won the hearts of the people of Pakistan when he said 'consider me Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia' in response to my asking him to treat the 2.5 mn Pakistani’s working in KSA as his own,” Imran tweeted.
“Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman has graciously agreed to free 2,107 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia with immediate effect. Cases of the remaining will be reviewed. People of Pakistan thank HRH for responding immediately to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s request,” says Pakistan Prime Minister’s official twitter handle.
Imran had requested the Crown Prince to take measures for the early release of 3,000 Pakistani prisoners jailed in Saudi Arabia.
In response, Crown Prince Salman assured the Prime Minister that Saudi Arabia would do whatever it could to address those issues.
‘Consider me Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia,’ he told the prime minister.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said today that 2,107 prisoners will be freed from KSA with immediate effect while cases of the remaining will be reviewed.
