Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Pakistan on Sunday at the start of a three-nation diplomatic tour aimed at bolstering relations with major regional allies.
The two-day Pakistan visit that will culminate in the two countries signing megadeals in fields ranging from energy to property will give much-needed boost to the country’s economy, while bringing more stability to the nation.
The Crown Prince’s visit is also significant in the sense that he is seen as a symbol of reform in Saudi Arabia, a country that has witnessed some major modernisation initiatives over the past two years, including a large-scale crackdown on corruption, opening of cinemas, lifting of the ban on women drivers and allowing women to watch public sporting events.
The Crown Prince also energised the economic landscape of the Kingdom with the announcement of some megaprojects such as NEOM, Qiddiya and the Red Sea Development that attracted significant foreign investment.
There is little wonder that Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, 33, has attracted significant global attention.
MBS was born in 1985 to King Salman and Fahda bint Falah, the third spouse of the king.
The Prince, who is a direct descendant of the influential Sudairi tribe, holds a bachelor’s degree in law from King Saud University.
Prince Mohammed became Minister of Defence and Secretary General of the Royal Court at the age of 30 –earning him the distinction of the youngest defence minister in the world – when his father became the new King of Saudi Arabia on January 23, 2015.
Before assuming the defence portfolio, MBS acted as a special advisor to his father when the latter was Governor of Riyad, in 2009.
MBS was appointed President of the Crown Prince’s Court with the rank of minister by his father in 2013. He took over from Saud bin Nayef, who became Governor of Eastern Province on April 25, 2014. The Prince was also made state minister at this time.
Four days after being appointed defence minister, he was named Chair of the newly-established Council for Economic and Development Affairs, on January 29, 2015.
As Defence Minister, he acted with efficiency and decisiveness, helping the Kingdom to forge strong relations with the West. He also formed an Islamic Military Alliance (IMA) to tackle terrorism and extremism. The organisation is headed by former chief of army staff of Pakistan, General Raheel Sharif.
On June 21, 2017, Mohammed bin Nayef was removed from the position of Crown Prince by King Salman in favour of MBS, who became the heir to the throne.
Vision 2030 Saudi Vision 2030, the blueprint for the future of Saudi Arabia, is a brainchild of MBS. The main objective of the plan is to reduce the country’s reliance on oil.
Through economic diversification, Vision 2030 not just seeks to create jobs for Saudi youth, but it also intends to make women a significant part of the national workforce
Visit to Pakistan According to a report, the Pakistani government has reserved 300 Land Cruisers for the Crown Prince and his entourage. The crown prince, who is staying at the Prime Minister House, is accompanied by a delegation of chief executives, businessmen and ministers, apart from Saudi Royal Guards.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with his cabinet members, arrived on Sunday at Noor Khan airbase to receive the Crown Prince. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa also reached the air base to extend warm welcome.
A gym has been set up at the Prime Minister House for the Crown Prince. Security arrangements of the Prime Minister House and eight private hotels have been handed over to the Pakistan Army and Saudi Royal Guards.
During the visit, Saudi ministers will hold meetings with their Pakistani counterparts on cooperation in their respective fields.
Imran said that the Crown Prince’s visit would strengthen economic and defence ties between the two countries.
Crown Prince Visit to Pakistan and its updates.
Positive Profiling about him,
His achievements as a leader,
His accomplishments globally,
His role in Saudi Arabia & empowering women,
His impact on global economy and
The benefit of his visit to Pakistan.
- A true king of hearts, Mohammed Bin Salman is the man behind the easement of
several laws that previously restricted women’s rights. All thanks to him, women can
now drive, own their own businesses, join the military and partake and attend sporting
events. - The youngest defense minister in the world and the first in line to the throne, is also the
kingdom’s deputy Prime Minister. - In 2013, he was awarded the “Personality of the Year” award by Forbes
Middle East for his role as chairman of the MiSK Foundation in recognition of his
support for Saudi youth and their development. - The young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, a reform drive aimed at
restructuring the Saudi kingdom’s economy and reducing its dependence on oil
revenue. - He has won plaudits from Western leaders for some of the reforms he has overseen in
the conservative Gulf kingdom, including lifting the ban on women driving and seeking
to diversify the economy. - Cinemas reopened again! Saudi movie lovers are watching Hollywood blockbusters
again for the first time in more than three decades. Foreign investment has flooded
in. In an ultra-conservative nation, he’s advocated for a return to a more moderate form
of Islam. - He ordered a sprawling crackdown on corruption, having recovered more than $106
billion in Saudi.
As part of his philanthropic work, he also established the MiSK Foundation, a non-profit
organization that works on cultivating learning and leadership among Saudi youth and
develops startups in the country.
