PM Khan thanks Saudi crown prince for release of Pakistani prisoners as royal visit concludes

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday thanked Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for his visit to Pakistan and also expressed his gratitude for the royal dignitary for ordering the release of 2107 Pakistani prisoners detained in Saudi jails, ARY News reported.

Addressing a joint press conference along with the Saudi crown prince at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, PM Khan said: “The social media response [on your visit] to Pakistan shows your immense popularity, and if you were to contest the elections here, you would end up getting more votes than me.”

He said the entire Pakistani nation was thankful for his act of kindness in releasing the detained people.

Prime Minister Khan said it was the first time the relations between the two countries were transcending into spheres previously not explored. “It’s just the beginning,” he stated.

Prime Minister Khan said the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is increasing in investment spheres. He said the geostrategic location of Pakistan offers tremendous opportunities for the region.

He also said that thanked the crown prince for his statement in which he [crown prince] referred to himself as Pakistan’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia

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“I would like to tell you that Pakistan is your second home; you may come here whenever you want”, he said.

In his remarks, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, while thanking the prime minister for the hospitality, said he felt at home while he was in Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan had the potential to become a big economy by 2030. “We believe Pakistan have a huge potential and it would be one of the biggest 20 economies in the world”, he said.

The Crown Prince said Saudi Arabia believes in the future of Pakistan and it will continue to do more for the development and progress of the country.

“The accords that we have signed [yesterday] are just a beginning”, he stressed, adding that the kingdom stood by Pakistan on its journey towards prosperity.

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Reiterating his yesterday’s statement about PM Khan’s leadership, the crown prince, addressing the prime minister said that Pakistan was progressing “under your leadership”.

Saudi crown prince left Islamabad this evening after a two-day official visit to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, both brotherly countries, applauded the growing momentum in bilateral ties in all areas.

Both sides stressed that dialogue is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the region and to resolve the outstanding issues. Both sides also strongly condemned the atrocities and human rights violations committed against Muslims around the world.