Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left on a three-day visit of Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon along with a 13-member delegation, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also accompanied the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that his visit to Saudi Arabia would renew and reaffirm the bonds of brotherhood and friendship with the Kingdom. “Today, I am embarking on a visit to Saudi Arabia to renew and reaffirm our bonds of brotherhood and friendship,” the prime minister said in a tweet ahead of his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia on April 28-30.

PM Shehbaz, who is undertaking his maiden foreign trip on the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, said he would hold wide-ranging discussions with the Saudi leadership. “Saudi Arabia is one of our greatest friends and as Custodian of the Two Holy Places, has a special place in all our hearts,” he said.

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1519576023880417280

PM Shehbaz Sharif is arriving in the holy city of Madina Munawwara today and will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including key members of the cabinet.

A Foreign Office in a statement said: “The prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia will impart a strong impetus to deepening bilateral cooperation in diverse fields and further reinforce the growing partnership between the two countries.”

Reporter Awais Kiyani