PM terms his Saudia visit as ‘renewal of ties’
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said his visit to Saudi Arabia has renewed the bonds of brotherhood and fraternity with its leadership. Addressing the Cabinet meeting held at PM Secretariat, the Prime Minister apprised them of his visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with King Abdullah. He said King Abdullah categorically said that Saudi Arabia will help Pakistan in all spheres that we may require assistance. He said this visit renewed Pakistan’s bonds with Saudi Arabia which has withstood test of times.
Gilani said during his stay from August 7-9, he performed Umrah and visited Madina Sharif. He said this invitation was a rare gesture of the Saudi government as the King does not meet visiting delegates during Ramadan.
 He took the Cabinet into confidence about his talks with King Abdullah that focused on seeking reactivation of bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the fields of science, defence, defence production, trade and commerce.
 Gilani said he also acknowledged the Custodian of the Holy Mosques’s personal appeal to the Saudi people to help Pakistani brothers in the aftermath of floods. He said this was done by King Abdullah for the first time for any country.
 He said he also apprised King Abdullah about Pakistan’s efforts to maintain excellent relations with neighbouring countries including India and Afghanistan.
 Gilani quoted King Abdullah as saying that “we are more than friends and brothers. We are, in fact, one country.” He said that stability in Pakistan is very important to Saudi Arabia.
 Gilani said on the invitation, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz was affirmative to visit Pakistan at a suitable date.
He apprised the Cabinet about the concern the government feels about the energy situation in the country.
He said taking cognizance of this, he had constituted a high-powered Ministerial Committee headed by the Finance Minister and comprising Ministers for Water and Power, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, and Acting Governor State Bank to examine the situation and suggest immediate out-of-box proposals to resolve the situation on war.
 He hoped that the Committee would submit proposals in a few days.