SANAA, Dec 10: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here on Sunday on his first visit as prime minister to the Yemen Republic.

His visit is part of government's endeavours for closer cooperation with the Middle Eastern countries. Prime Minister of Yemen Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal, Pakistan's ambassador Nawab Amir Abdul Rehman Nousherwani and Pakistani expatriates received Mr Aziz and his entourage at the airport.

Three agreements are likely to be signed during the prime minister’s visit. Mr Aziz would hold meetings with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, prime minister, business leaders and prominent members of the Pakistani community in the country.

Mr Aziz is accompanied by Adviser Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Defence Production Minister Habibullah Warraich, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, Population Minister Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, and Minister of State for Religious Affairs Aamir Liaquat Ali, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar and other parliamentarians. —APP