In pictures: Pakistan pulls out all the stops to welcome Saudi crown prince

The crown prince departed from Nur Khan Airbase on Monday evening.
Published February 18, 2019

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman — also known as MBS for short — departed from the Nur Khan Airbase on Monday evening after concluding his first state visit to Islamabad.

The Saudi crown prince had arrived in Pakistan on February 17 amid heightened security in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Motorcyclists pass by a banner welcoming Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman displayed on the occasion of his visit, in Lahore on February 16. — AP
Motorcyclists pass by a banner welcoming Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman displayed on the occasion of his visit, in Lahore on February 16. — AP

An army soldier stands guard while police officers search a vehicle at a checkpoint near presidency to ensure security ahead of MBS's visit to Pakistan, in Islamabad on February 17. — AP
An army soldier stands guard while police officers search a vehicle at a checkpoint near presidency to ensure security ahead of MBS's visit to Pakistan, in Islamabad on February 17. — AP

A welcoming banner featuring the portrait of the crown prince and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is displayed on the building of the Parliament House in Islamabad. — AFP
A welcoming banner featuring the portrait of the crown prince and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is displayed on the building of the Parliament House in Islamabad. — AFP

Pakistani police commandos and paramilitary soldiers stand guard at a highway to ensure security ahead of Saudi Arabia's crown prince visit to Pakistan, in Islamabad on Sunday. — AP
Pakistani police commandos and paramilitary soldiers stand guard at a highway to ensure security ahead of Saudi Arabia's crown prince visit to Pakistan, in Islamabad on Sunday. — AP

Pakistan Air Force aircraft escorting the crown prince's aircraft on Sunday. — Photo courtesy Govt of Pakistan Twitter
Pakistan Air Force aircraft escorting the crown prince's aircraft on Sunday. — Photo courtesy Govt of Pakistan Twitter

Prime Minister Imran Khan greets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi on Sunday. — AP
Prime Minister Imran Khan greets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi on Sunday. — AP

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Nur Khan Airbase. — Photo courtesy PTI Official Twitter
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Nur Khan Airbase. — Photo courtesy PTI Official Twitter

Prime Minister Imran Khan greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman upon his arrival at Nur Khan Air Base. — Photo courtesy Arab News
Prime Minister Imran Khan greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman upon his arrival at Nur Khan Air Base. — Photo courtesy Arab News

In a break from protocol, Prime Minister Khan personally drove the Saudi crown prince to PM House, where a welcome ceremony was held in his honour. — Photo courtesy PID
In a break from protocol, Prime Minister Khan personally drove the Saudi crown prince to PM House, where a welcome ceremony was held in his honour. — Photo courtesy PID

The crown prince plants a sapling in Islamabad. — Photo courtesy PID
The crown prince plants a sapling in Islamabad. — Photo courtesy PID

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks next to Prime Minister Imran Khan during a reception at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. — AFP
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks next to Prime Minister Imran Khan during a reception at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. — AFP

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds official talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Sunday. — AP
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds official talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Sunday. — AP

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan at PM House in Islamabad on Sunday. — AFP
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan at PM House in Islamabad on Sunday. — AFP

At a ceremony in the PM House, Pakistan and Saudi officials signed MoUs for bilateral cooperation in a number of areas — a process overseen by Prime Minister Khan and MBS. — AP
At a ceremony in the PM House, Pakistan and Saudi officials signed MoUs for bilateral cooperation in a number of areas — a process overseen by Prime Minister Khan and MBS. — AP

Details of MoUs signed by both countries.

Prime Minister Khan hosted a reception dinner at Prime Minister House on Sunday. — Photo courtesy Arab News Pakistan Twitter
Prime Minister Khan hosted a reception dinner at Prime Minister House on Sunday. — Photo courtesy Arab News Pakistan Twitter

A man buys a morning newspaper with front-page-coverage of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a roadside stall in Islamabad on February 18. — AFP
A man buys a morning newspaper with front-page-coverage of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a roadside stall in Islamabad on February 18. — AFP

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gets on a horse-drawn carriage to proceed to the President House in Islamabad on Sunday. —AFP
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gets on a horse-drawn carriage to proceed to the President House in Islamabad on Sunday. —AFP

Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa with MBS. — Photo courtesy ISPR
Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa with MBS. — Photo courtesy ISPR

The Saudi crown prince and Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at the President House in a traditional chariot. — Photo courtesy Arab News Pakistan
The Saudi crown prince and Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at the President House in a traditional chariot. — Photo courtesy Arab News Pakistan

The Saudi crown prince and Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at the President House in a traditional chariot.— AFP
The Saudi crown prince and Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at the President House in a traditional chariot.— AFP

President Alvi shakes hands with the crown prince as Prime Minister Imran Khan looks on. — AFP
President Alvi shakes hands with the crown prince as Prime Minister Imran Khan looks on. — AFP

President Alvi on Monday conferred Pakistan's highest civil award — the *Nishan-e-Pakistan* — on Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during a ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad. — AFP
President Alvi on Monday conferred Pakistan's highest civil award — the Nishan-e-Pakistan — on Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during a ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad. — AFP

President Alvi presents a framed photograph to MBS of the royal plane flanked by PAF jets as it enters Pakistani airspace.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa later saw off Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at Nur Khan Airbase on Monday evening. — Photo courtesy PTI Official Twitter
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa later saw off Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at Nur Khan Airbase on Monday evening. — Photo courtesy PTI Official Twitter

The crown prince waves before departing from Nur Khan Airbase. — Photo courtesy PID
The crown prince waves before departing from Nur Khan Airbase. — Photo courtesy PID


Header photo: The crown prince, who visited Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Khan, was accorded a red carpet welcome and presented a guard of honour at the PM House. — AFP