JEDDAH / ISLAMABAD, July 15: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf arrived in Jeddah on Sunday to perform Umrah and meet Saudi leaders.

He was received at the Royal Terminal by Pakistan’s Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Pakistan Ibrahim Al Ghadeer and Saudi officials.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah is the only minister accompanying the prime minister on his first foreign visit.

During the two-day visit, Prime Minister Ashraf will have an audience with King Abdullah and other Saudi leaders.

After performing Umrah, he will visit Madina on Monday.

Talking to reporters at Chaklala airbase before leaving for Saudi Arabia, the prime minister said matters of mutual interest would come under discussion during his meeting with King Abdullah scheduled for Monday in Jeddah.

The prime minister will offer his condolences to the Saudi king on the death of crown prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. He will also meet members of the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ashraf said Saudi Arabia had close, brotherly ties with Pakistan and it gave importance to Pakistan’s government and its people.

“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are bound in religious and spiritual ties,” he said, adding Saudi Arabia always extended help to Pakistan in its hour of need.

He said a large number of Pakistanis lived in Saudi Arabia and were taking part in its development and progress, considering it as their own country.

Answering a question, he said companies from many countries, including Saudi Arabia, had made investment in Pakistan because a conducive environment existed in the country for investors.

The prime minister said he would urge Saudi investors to make more investment in Pakistan.

According to Ambassador Naeem Khan, the prime minister would have a chance to meet new Saudi leaders, including Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, who would be present during his meeting with the king.—APP