Close brotherly ties with Saudi Arabia source of strength for Pakistan: PM
ISLAMABAD, Apr 27 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said that the people, the Parliament and the Government of Pakistan look towards Saudi Arabia to work for the unity and solidarity of the Muslim Ummah.The close brotherly ties with Saudi Arabia is a source of strength for Pakistan, he added.The Prime Minister was talking to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, who called on him here at the PM House on Wednesday afternoon to brief him on her recent visit to Saudi Arabia and meetings with the Saudi leadership.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure detailed follow-up on the understandings reached at during the visit of the Minister of State to Saudi Arabia.
Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar while briefing the Prime Minister on her recent trip to Saudi Arabia, mentioned that both sides agreed that frequent high level meetings between the two sides would help strengthen the existing friendly ties between the two brotherly  countries.
She said the Saudi leadership assured that Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Pakistan is strategic and permanent. She further mentioned that Saudi leadership assured that Saudi Arabia would extend complete support for early finalization of Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar while apprising the Prime Minister on the decisions and understanding reached at with the Saudi government, said that it was agreed that the meeting of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission (established in 2007) will  be held very soon.
It was also agreed that institutional mechanism will be established to promote cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in the fields of investment, finance, trade, defence and export of manpower from Pakistan, she added.
As regards the challenges facing the Islamic world, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar said that both sides agreed to develop common position for the solidarity and well-being of Muslim Ummah.
The two sides, she added, mutually agreed to hold political level consultations between their respective foreign offices to consult and coordinate their positions vis-…-vis the evolving situation in the region and the Middle East.
The Saudi leadership with whom Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar met during her visit to Saudi Arabia included Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al Faisal, Secretary General of National Security Council of Saudi Arabia Prince Bander Bin Sultan, Minister for Interior Mohammed bin Naif and senior officials of the Foreign Office.