ABU DHABI: Prime Minister Imran Khan returned back to the country on Thursday after his visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
During his visit, PM Imran met the leadership in United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia during his first official visit after assuming office as the premier.
PM Imran performed Umrah and also paid a visit to Roza-e-Rasool (Peace Be upon Him), the final resting place of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in Medina.
He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.
The prime minister visited Saudi Arabia on King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s invitation, according to a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
Earlier, upon his arrival at the King Abdulaziz International Airport’s Royal Terminal in Jeddah, Imran was received by Mecca Deputy Governor Prince Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud as well as Hasham bin Siddique, the Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
During his meeting with Mecca’s top official, the premier exchanged thoughts on matters of mutual interest between the Kingdom and Pakistan.
The two-day trip began exactly one month after Imran assumed office, with Pakistan possibly seeking billions of dollars in assistance from allies as it seeks to avert a balance-of-payments crisis.
The new premier faces various challenges, including a faltering economy, extremism, water shortages, and a rapidly growing population. The most pressing one, however, is a looming balance-of-payments crisis, with analysts predicting Pakistan will have to go to the International Monetary Fund for a fresh bailout. NNI
