Riyadh (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left Riyadh for London on Thursday, wrapping up his official state visit to Saudi Arabia.
He was seen off at Riyadh Airport by Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz.
The visit took place at the invitation of Crown Prince and Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
During his stay, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Crown Prince signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, marking a historic milestone in bilateral ties.
Read More:Â Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Sign Mutual Defense Pact, Following Israel’s Attack on Qatar
The accord underscores the two nations’ commitment to enhancing defense cooperation and promoting regional and global peace.
It further stipulates that any act of aggression against one country will be treated as an attack against both, strengthening their joint deterrence posture.
In London, the Prime Minister is also expected to engage with British officials and community leaders, with a focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, and climate resilience.
The UK remains one of Pakistan’s key trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade crossing the £4 billion mark in recent years.
Pakistan and the UK also share deep people-to-people ties, with over 1.6 million British-Pakistanis contributing to social, cultural, and economic life in the United Kingdom. This diaspora serves as a vital bridge between the two nations.
Read More:Â UK Expresses Solidarity with Pakistan Amid Floods
Officials note that Islamabad and London are working closely on issues ranging from counterterrorism to renewable energy and development assistance.
Both sides are keen to expand collaboration under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which provides preferential access for Pakistani exports.
