RIYADH, April 3: Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz will make an official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of President Pervez Musharraf from April 15 to 16. The crown prince who is also the Minister for Defence and Aviation, will be leaving the kingdom on April 5 to visit Japan and Singapore, before landing in Islamabad on April 15.

Pakistani Ambassador Admiral (retd) Shahid Karimullah told Dawn on Monday that trade and economic ties would be the focus of the crown prince’s visit to Pakistan.

There are indications here that Saudi Arabia may start sending a larger number of students to Pakistan for professional courses and higher studies.

The crown prince’s three-nation tour is believed here to be an extension of the visits recently undertaken by King Abdullah to China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan. The royal visit is also a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Look East’ initiative.

Since the crown prince also holds the portfolio of defence the issue of enhancing ties in defence sector may also come up during talks between the two sides, informed sources here indicated. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are already discussing the sale of Al Khalid tank. Jane’s Defence Weekly recently said that the deal, once confirmed, could be of the order of $600 million, the single largest sale of defence equipment by Pakistan.