ISLAMABAD:President Dr Arif Alvi has underscored the need for robust economic and trade relations with Saudi Arabia for the mutual benefit of two brotherly countries.

The President expressed these views while talking to the Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq here in Islamabad on Thursday.

Talking to the Ambassador-designate, the President said Pakistan attaches special significance to its relations with Saudi Arabia, which are based on common faith, shared history and people-to-people contacts.

He highlighted that Pakistan wants to further consolidate the existing bilateral ties into a strategic economic partnership for the mutual interest of the two countries.

The President asked the ambassador-designate to highlight the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the persecution of Muslims in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as well as other parts of India at various fora.