RAWALPINDI: A Saudi team comprising security, health, Harmain Sharifain and defence department officials has reached Islamabad ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s two-day state visit to Pakistan, while another 70 members will join the team on Friday.

According to sources, more than 750 rooms in different hotels in Islamabad have been reserved for the members of different Saudi delegations, while the prince is expected to stay at the Prime Minister House.

They said that as many as 280 rooms had been booked at a top hotel in the federal capital where 119 members of the advance team were staying amid tight security.

Fourteen members of another Saudi delegation are staying in another hotel, while 60 rooms have been booked in a hotel to accommodate 23 members. Another 14-member Saudi team is staying in a hotel where 305 rooms have been booked.

Personal belongings of the crown prince have already reached Islamabad.

It will be the first visit of Mohammad bin Salman to Pakistan after becoming the crown prince and unprecedented security measures have been taken for the trip.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2019