ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was conferred with the country’s highest civil award Nishan-e-Pakistan on Monday.
President Arif Alvi conferred the award on the Saudi crown prince at an investiture ceremony held in his honour at the Presidency.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the heads of the three armed forces. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and members of the federal cabinet were also present at the ceremony.
The crown prince, commonly known as MbS, was given a special protocol as he went from the President House to the PM House on a horse carriage accompanied by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
President Alvi received MbS upon arrival the President House. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry were also present when the Saudi crown prince and the prime minister arrived at the President House.
A meeting was held between President Alvi and the Saudi crown prince after which a ceremony was held in his honour and he was conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan.
In his speech, President Alvi said, “It is a privilege for me to host this banquet.”
“Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been partners for centuries and our friendship is rooted in religion and culture. Despite the geographical distance between us, we are very close in our hearts,” the president added. “The recent visit of the prime minister and your visit cements the friendship between us,” he further said.
The Saudi crown prince also addressed the ceremony and said, “I thank you for honouring me with Pakistan’s highest award.”
“The brotherly relationship between the Kingdom and Pakistan is a model that should be followed by other nations,” MbS said.
MbS also met a delegation of lawmakers led by Senate chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani earlier today.
According to the Senate Secretariat, Sanjrani hailed the crown prince’s plan to make a multi-billion-dollar investment in Pakistan. “In addition to mutual assistance and partnership, these investments will also pave way for regional development,” the Senate chairman said. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2020 is the vision of peace, economic growth and prosperity. This visit will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the two countries’ relations.”
Hailing Saudi Arabia’s decision to invest in the country, the Senate chairman said, “The situation has changed in Pakistan. The atmosphere for investment and trade is extremely conducive now.”
The Senate chairman acknowledged the Kingdom’s “time-tested friendship” and added that Saudi Arabia “has always helped Pakistan in trying times”.
“Both the countries share the same point of view on various political and security issues” and “are in agreement at a multitude of fora,” Sanjrani further said.
Sanjrani was accompanied by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, senators Azam Swati, Mushahidullah Khan, Raja Zafarul Haq, Shibli Faraz NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.
