MANAMA: King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa conferred upon Prime Minister Imran Khan the Gulf state’s highest civil award ‘The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance’ at a ceremony held here on Monday.

The king received the prime minister upon his arrival at the Sakhir Palace, said a press release.

Later, Prime Minister Khan and Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa discussed bilateral issues as well as the regional situation during a meeting that took place at Al Ghudaibya Palace.

The prime minister was accorded a guard of honour on his arrival at Al Ghudaibya Palace for the official meeting with the crown prince.

Prime Minister Khan and Crown Prince Salman also witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of higher education and scientific research, sports and medical sciences.

On the invitation of King Hamad, Prime Minister Khan visited Bahrain to attend the National Day of Bahrain as the guest of honour.

Earlier, on his arrival in Bahrain, the prime minister was received by the crown prince and accorded a red-carpet welcome.

Prime Minister Khan later departed from Bahrain on completion of his day-long visit to the kingdom. Crown Prince Salman saw off the prime minister at the airport.

PM, Gulf state’s crown prince discuss regional situation; MoUs in various fields inked

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Prime Minister Khan’s visit to Bahrain on the invitation of King Hamad was manifestation of opening of new era of bilateral ties between the two countries.

In a series of tweets, Ms Awan said that prime minister’s attendance at Bahrain’s national day as a guest of honour and conferring of Bahrain’s highest civil award was proof of Pakistan’s increasing influence in the region and the world.

She said the visit would strengthen bilateral relations and open new vistas of cooperation in various fields. Pakistan, she said, enjoyed religious and cultural relations based on mutual trust and peoples of both the countries are determined to further boost these relations for the benefit of both the countries.

The SAPM said that over 100,000 Pakistanis living in Bahrain were playing their role in the economic development of Bahrain. She said the PM’s visit would help promote bilateral trade and investment.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2019