JEDDAH, 8 September 2004 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah held talks here yesterday with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on major international issues including Palestine and Iraq.
During the meeting, King Fahd highlighted the “strong and distinguished relations” between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and emphasized the need to strengthen these ties, the Saudi Press Agency said.
Aziz conveyed the greetings of President Pervez Musharraf to the king and the crown prince. “This is my first foreign visit after becoming prime minister,” Aziz said, adding that Pakistan gives utmost importance to its relations with the Kingdom.
Aziz told King Fahd: “We in Pakistan consider you as the leader and supporter of the Islamic nation.” He also commended the great achievements made by Saudi Arabia over the past years.
Aziz also noted King Fahd’s efforts in the expansion of the two holy mosques and the Saudi government’s services to Haj and Umrah pilgrims. He emphasized Islamabad’s desire to promote Saudi-Pak relations.
Earlier, Prince Abdullah held a one-on-one meeting with Aziz before hosting a luncheon in his honor. The luncheon was attended by Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, senior princes and top officials. Aziz held a separate meeting with Prince Sultan.
Finance Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf met with Aziz and discussed the private sector’s role in strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.
Addressing members of the Pakistani community at the Conference Palace, Aziz vowed to pursue transparent policies and make Pakistan prosperous and an economic giant.
He said the government had devised plans to enhance productivity and reduce poverty, particularly in rural areas. Special emphasis was being given to the improvement of infrastructure, health care facilities and education. Water shortage will be overcome with the building of big dams, he said.
Aziz said the government’s prudent economic policies had yielded results and the growth rate had increased to 6.4 percent. An increase of 8 percent will be possible in near future, he added.
He urged Pakistanis living abroad to project the image of the country as a progressive and modern state.
About the problems of overseas Pakistanis, Aziz said Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Tariq Azeem has been assigned the task of resolving them on a priority basis.
Aziz said he has very good and cordial relations with Saudi leaders as he spent most of his life in the Kingdom. He said Saudi Arabia is second home for every Muslim.
He said the government was planning to launch an Islamic bond before the end of this year which he hoped would be well received in the Middle East.
