Cash-strapped Pakistan rolls out red carpet for Saudi crown prince

Amid heightened security, cash-strapped Pakistan was on Sunday ready to receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, whose maiden trip to Islamabad was delayed by a day for unkwn reasons.

Unease ran in government circles in Islamabad that Saudi prince might call off trip due to security reasons after building up of tensions between Pakistan and India following a terror attack on soldiers in Kashmir on Thursday, according to officials privy to developments.

But re was a sigh of relief when Foreign Office anunced on Friday night that de-facto ruler of Gulf Kingdom will arrive on Sunday.

reason was given for rescheduling of planned arrival of prince. However, duration of two-day was t curtailed, r meetings and investment plans.

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crown prince was due to reach Pakistan on Saturday, but his arrival was delayed for a day.

Saudi Arabia on Friday said it stood with India's fight against terrorism and extremism and deunced as "cowardly" attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group in Jammu and Kashmir that killed at least 40 CRPF soldiers.

crown prince, who is visiting Pakistan at invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, will be accorded a red carpet welcome and presented a guard of hour at PM House after his arrival at or Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi.

According to official media, prince will be received by Prime Minister Khan and members of his cabinet at air base. He will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including members of Saudi Royal family, key ministers and leading businessmen.

This will be his first official visit to Pakistan since his elevation to position of crown prince in April 2017.

During his visit, Muhammad bin Salman, colloquially kwn as MBS, will meet President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will sign a number of agreements and MoUs in diverse sectors.

According to Advisor to PM on Trade, Razzak Dawood, agreements worth between USD 10-15 billion will be signed, including one about Saudi investment to build an oil refinery. refinery once ready will help to save about USD 1.25 billion in imports bills.

two sides will also set up an advisory council led by crown prince and prime minister of Pakistan to follow up agreement singed so that y are implemented on time.

Special arrangements were made in Islamabad to accord a warm welcome to prince and his entour on ir arrival.

Big portraits of MBS, King Salman, Prime Minister Khan and President Alvi have been erected on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad.

Banners and posters inscribed with slogans of Pak-Saudi friendship and fraternity have also been put on display along roads.

A big portrait of crown prince, 120 feet tall and 45 feet wide, was also installed on parliament building.

Locally built JF-17 Thunder jets will escort plane of prince after it entered Pakistani air.

Elaborate security arrangement were made and routes leading to Red Zone where all important government offices and diplomatic missions were located was sealed for common public.

Four-Tier security arrangements have been made for prince. outer most tier will be manned by police, second by paramilitary Ranger, third by army and fourth and innermost by royal guards of prince.

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prince will also use about 130 royal guards. A 235-member delegation of Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), led by Pakistan's former army chief General Raheel Sharif, is in capital to ensure foolproof security.

A holiday was declared for Monday to avoid tension for workers and students as more than 1,000 security check points were set up in city and at entry places.