LAHORE(National times)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Saudi investment would open a new era of progress in the province, welcoming the delegation of the Saudi-Pakistan Business Council led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed Al Saud. She noted that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was taking Pakistan-Saudi relations to a new dimension and that mutual cooperation was entering a promising phase. Speaking at a ceremony held in honour of the visiting Saudi delegation, the chief minister said Pakistan\u2019s people had greatly appreciated the recent defence cooperation agreement between the two nations. \u201cThe delegation\u2019s arrival marks good fortune for Punjab,\u201d she remarked, adding that her government was focused on modern reforms and offering extensive investment opportunities across multiple sectors. Maryam Nawaz emphasised that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia shared a bond of brotherhood and unity. Recalling her meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, she said it was inspiring to hear him speak about progress and innovation. \u201cHe is leading the Kingdom to unprecedented heights of modernisation,\u201d she added. The chief minister said the Crown Prince had encouraged teamwork and open dialogue \u2013 a principle she also instilled in her own administration. She highlighted that her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, had maintained decades-long relations of trust and friendship with the Kingdom. \u201cI myself lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years during our exile under General Musharraf, which makes Jeddah more familiar to me than Lahore,\u201d she remarked. Praising Saudi Arabia\u2019s confidence in Pakistan, Maryam Nawaz said she hoped the Kingdom\u2019s investments in Punjab would drive a new wave of economic growth. She acknowledged Saudi Arabia\u2019s generous assistance during the province\u2019s flood disasters and its consistent support in difficult times. \u201cPakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia, and protecting Makkah and Madinah is an honour for us,\u201d she said. Prince Mansour bin Mohammed Al Saud, head of the Saudi-Pakistan Business Council, expressed gratitude to the chief minister for her warm hospitality. He said the delegation had already studied the potential for investment in both public and private sectors before arriving in Lahore. \u201cOur agenda includes many fields, especially agriculture. Punjab\u2019s land is immensely fertile, and we are committed to investing here. Partnership with Punjab holds great significance for us,\u201d he stated. Prince Mansour noted that Saudi investors should have entered Pakistan much earlier. \u201cA new era between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has begun,\u201d he said, stressing that their goal was not only to conduct business but also to work jointly to address Pakistan\u2019s pressing challenges. He announced that Saudi investors aimed to build one million low-cost houses in Pakistan within the next four years.The delegation reaffirmed Saudi Arabia\u2019s commitment to collaborating with Pakistan in key sectors, including health, information technology, and agriculture \u2013 signalling the beginning of a deeper and more strategic economic partnership between the two brotherly nations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE(National times)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Saudi investment would open a new era of progress in the province, welcoming the delegation of the Saudi-Pakistan Business Council led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed Al Saud. She noted that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was taking Pakistan-Saudi relations to a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":113710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n