Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have decided to form a Supreme Coordination Council for close coordination between the two countries, Dawn reported.

The agreement was inked on Friday after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived on a three-day visit to the Middle East kingdom.

The two sides also signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of economic cooperation, strategic partnership, trade, investment, energy, environment and media partnership.

This is Khan’s third visit to Saudi Arabia after coming to power in 2018.

Khan was received by Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and the two leaders had a one-on-one meeting.

Later, areas of bilateral cooperation like the economy, trade, investment, energy and job opportunities for the Pakistani workforce, and welfare of Pakistani diaspora in the Kingdom was discussed in delegation-level meeting the two countries.

Accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Senator Faisal Javed, the prime minister arrived in the kingdom at the invitation of the Saudi crown prince.

During the visit, Khan will meet the secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the World Muslim League Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and the imams of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Medina. He will also interact with the Pakistani diaspora in Jeddah.

Imran Khan’s visit was preceded by talks between the Pakistani and Saudi military leadership during which they discussed bilateral cooperation for regional peace and security.

The discussions were held during Chief of Pakistan Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s meetings with the Saudi crown prince.

The focus of the discussions during the army chief’s visit, according to the statements issued by both sides, has been on regional security.

(SAM)