Nawaz Sharif travels to Guangzhou, China, to see the shrine of Hazrat Saad ibn Abi Waqqas (RA)

Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), paid a visit to Hazrat Saad ibn Abi Waqqas’ (RA) mausoleum on Thursday in Guangzhou, the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China.

While on a week-long personal vacation to China, the former prime minister performed Fateha at the sacred tomb of Sahabi-e-Rasul Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH). During the early Tang Dynasty, Hazrat Saad ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) was one of the first Arab Muslims to introduce Islam to China.

On Wednesday, April 24, Sharif, his grandson Junaid Safdar, and five other people landed in China. This is the former prime minister’s first trip outside following his self-imposed four-year exile in London.

On Monday, Sharif took off on Chinese Airlines Flight CZ-6038. Though the visit is unofficial, The News was informed by reliable sources that it may be beneficial for the development of the Nawaz Sharif IT-City in Lahore, which is the idea of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The Nawaz Sharif IT City is expected to be established in less than a year, and a number of Chinese businesses have expressed interest in investing there. According to the sources, Sharif will also make an effort to rekindle his relationships with influential businessmen and leaders of the Chinese governing party.

According to diplomatic sources, CM Maryam and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are also anticipated to visit China in June of this year.