Speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh is scheduled to start an official visit, heading a council delegation, to Pakistan on Wednesday. The visit comes upon an invitation from the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Asad Qaiser. During the visit, Dr. Al Al-Sheikh is set to meet with Pakistan President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and senior officials. The Speaker is also scheduled to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss several issues of mutual concern in various fields, in addition to discussing cooperation between the Shoura Council and the National Assembly and coordination in various regional and international parliamentary events and occasions, as well as ways of activating the role of the joint friendship parliamentary committees. Al Al-Sheikh stressed that the visit is part of the historical and solid relations supported by the interest of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, in all fields. He noted that ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have a great importance due to their weight and status at the Islamic, regional and international levels. These bonds are built on a solid base of fraternity and common destiny, he said. The Speaker said: "What both countries witness of matched visions and points of view have resulted in a deep partnership and effective role in leading endeavors to solve various regional issues facing the Islamic nation regionally and internationally, in addition to their permanent efforts towards realizing peace and security in the world and serving Islamic causes." At the parliamentary level, Al Al-Sheikh pointed out that the visit highlights the keenness of the Council and the Assembly to enhance bilateral parliamentary ties and to instill the contents of the memorandum of understanding that both sides signed in December 2019 in Riyadh with the aim of enhancing cooperation, coordination and consultation in the parliamentary action between the two countries in all regional and international events. He also expressed hope that this visit would contribute to further boosting parliamentary relations, exchanging expertise, coordination and consultation over issues of mutual interest, and activating the role of both sides' parliamentary friendship committees to serve the interests of the two brotherly countries and peoples. — SPA
