PM Shehbaz likely to meet Turkish President Erdoğan: sources

By
Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (L) and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. — AFP/File
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (L) and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. — AFP/File 

  • PM Shehbaz is expected to meet Turkish President Erdoğan, say sources. 
  • President Erdoğan conveyed a message to PM Shehbaz to meet him, say sources.
  • Currently, the premier is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sources privy to the matter said Friday. 

According to the sources, Turkish President Erdoğan conveyed a message to PM Shehbaz to meet him. "I would like to meet you," read the message sent by the president, the sources said. 

Currently, the premier is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Chaudhry Salik, and four members of PM Shehbaz Sharif's personal staff are accompanying the prime minister on his visit.

The prime minister held a brief meeting with Madinah's governor, where both the leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations.

Also read: Protesters chant slogans against PM Shehbaz, delegation at Masjid-e-Nabawi

Taking to Twitter before leaving for Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz had said that his visit will "renew and reaffirm" ties between the two countries. He added that he will hold wide-ranging discussions with the Saudi leadership.

Giving a briefing on the visit, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar, in a statement, had said that the prime minister will be in the kingdom from April 28-30.

During the visit, the prime minister will have bilateral interaction with the Saudi leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic, trade and investment ties, and creating greater opportunities for the Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia, the spokesperson said.

"The two sides will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest," the spokesperson said.