Pakistan PM visits Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, offers prayers

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Prophet Mosque in Madinah and offered prayers there during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Sharif’s office said late Thursday.
Sharif is on a four-day visit to the Kingdom to strengthen trade and investment ties. The two countries enjoy close defense, diplomatic, political and cultural relations, though they have consolidated their ties further in recent years as Pakistan grappled with a prolonged economic crisis and sought the kingdom’s help.
Pakistan has tried to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) relations with the Kingdom, with both sides announcing during his visit to Riyadh last October they had signed 34 memorandums of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion to enhance private sector collaboration and commercial partnerships.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited and paid his respects at Roza-e-Rasool (Peace Be Upon Him) after arriving in Madinah,” Sharif’s office said.
“The doors of Riyazul Jannah were exclusively opened for the prime minister and his delegation.”
The prime minister, along with his delegation, offered prayers at Prophet’s Mosque and prayed for the unity of the Muslim world and the prosperity of Pakistan, according to his office.
Earlier upon his arrival in Madinah, Sharif was received at the airport by Madinah Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan.
On Thursday, the Pakistan premier also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed cooperation between both countries in economic, trade, investment, energy and defense sectors, according to Sharif’s office. 
Separately, Sharif also met Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, the head of the Joint Task Force for Economic Engagement. The discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation, attracting Saudi investments and expediting joint initiatives in key sectors.
“The PM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating Saudi investors, highlighting the country’s strategic position and investment-friendly policies,” the PM’s office said. “He emphasized Pakistan’s vast potential in energy, infrastructure, agriculture and technology, inviting Saudi businesses to explore opportunities under the Special Investment Facilitation Council.”
The two sides also discussed enhancing institutional collaboration to accelerate investment projects and ensure smooth implementation and strengthening the Pakistan-Saudi economic partnership through “structured engagements and swift execution of joint projects.”