Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended warm congratulations to Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his appointment as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The felicitations came after Sharif, 72, assumed office for a second term following a resounding victory in the National Assembly, securing 201 votes and surpassing his rival, Omar Ayub, who enjoyed the backing of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) took X (formerly Twitter) and stated “His Highness Crown Prince congratulates Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on the occasion of his swearing in as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the SPA said on X.
سمو #ولي_العهد يهنئ السيد محمد شهباز شريف بمناسبة أدائه اليمين الدستورية رئيساً لوزراء جمهورية باكستان الإسلامية.#واس pic.twitter.com/fI1GI4TdpY
— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) March 4, 2024
Saudi Arabia, home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and a pivotal source of remittances for Pakistan, has consistently maintained robust trade, defense, and fraternal relations with the South Asian nation.
Earlier, felicitations were extended from China, Turkey, and Iran to Sharif upon his election as prime minister on Sunday.
Sharif, who previously assumed the role of prime minister following Khan's removal from office in April 2022, faces numerous challenges ahead. Among his primary tasks is maintaining relations with the military, which has wielded significant influence in Pakistan since its inception.
He assumes office amidst pressing economic issues, including the necessity to negotiate a new bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the current program concludes this month.
Managing relationships with key allies such as the US and China, alongside addressing strained ties with neighboring countries like India, Iran, and Afghanistan, will also be paramount. Additionally, Sharif's government must confront the escalating militancy plaguing Pakistan.
