On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that the goal of his government was to turn the long-standing diplomatic and economic connections between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan into a strategic alliance that would benefit both countries, with an emphasis on luring Saudi capital into bankable projects in Pakistan. The prime minister congratulated Saudi authorities for broadening the “Road to Makkah” project, which will aid Pakistani Hajj pilgrims, during a meeting with Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy, the Saudi ambassador in Pakistan. He expressed his gratitude to Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for their well wishes on his reelection as prime minister.