Saudi Crown Prince Invites PM Shehbaz to 9th FII Forum

Download IPFS

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accepted an invitation from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to participate in the ninth Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum in Riyadh, set for October 27 to 30, 2025. The invitation was delivered personally by Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz accepted the Crown Prince’s invitation and conveyed his respectful regards to both the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, and the Crown Prince. The gathering, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar along with advisers Tariq Fatemi and Dr Tauqir Shah, also provided a forum for reviewing regional developments in a cordial atmosphere.

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum, often referred to as “Davos in the Desert,” is an annual conference convened by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to bring together global policymakers, investors, and business leaders to explore economic trends, emerging technologies, and strategic investment opportunities in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

This recent development reinforces the long-standing bilateral ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Over recent years, Riyadh has supported Islamabad’s financial stability through deposits into Pakistan’s central bank, helping unlock International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout packages. During Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit to Saudi Arabia last October, the two countries signed 34 multilateral memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth $2.8 billion, several of which have since materialized into formal agreements.

Participation in the upcoming FII Forum presents a strategic opportunity for Pakistan to highlight investment prospects, attract capital inflows, and deepen economic cooperation with Gulf partners. The forum’s global platform aligns with Islamabad’s broader agenda to enhance foreign investment and foster economic growth.

For a centre-right audience, the Prime Minister’s acceptance underscores prudent diplomacy, leveraging strong regional ties to pursue pragmatic economic benefits. The focus remains on consolidating financial stability, promoting investment, and reinforcing strategic alliances, without veering into ideological rhetoric or partisan commentary.