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PM Sharif thanks Saudi crown prince for ‘comprehensive’ Pakistan investment program

PM Sharif thanks Saudi crown prince for ‘comprehensive’ Pakistan investment program
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2024. (Saudi Press Agency)
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Updated 30 April 2024
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PM Sharif thanks Saudi crown prince for ‘comprehensive’ Pakistan investment program

PM Sharif thanks Saudi crown prince for ‘comprehensive’ Pakistan investment program
  • Pakistani PM meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during visit to Riyadh for World Economic Forum meeting 
  • Kingdom’s foreign minister visited Pakistan this month to push forward previously agreed investment deals, strengthen cooperation
Updated 30 April 2024
Shahjahan Khurram
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday to discuss matters of mutual interest and regional developments, thanking him for a “comprehensive” program presented by Saudi ministers regarding investment in Pakistan, Sharif’s office said on Monday. 

Sharif has held meetings with Saudi officials and ministers since he arrived in Riyadh on Saturday to attend a two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting on energy, collaboration, and health. His visit to the Kingdom follows Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s trip to Pakistan in mid-April with a high-level delegation. The Saudi foreign minister’s visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and pushing forward previously agreed investment deals. Pakistan has said it pitched investment projects worth $30 billion to Riyadh during Prince Faisal’s visit.

In videos and pictures shared by Sharif’s office, the two leaders can be seen interacting with each other in the presence of their teams. Sharif thanked the Saudi crown prince for sending the high-level delegation to Pakistan and issuing directions for more Saudi delegations to visit the country “to promote investment,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. 

“The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Crown Prince for the hospitality during his visit to Saudi Arabia and for a comprehensive program presented by Saudi Ministers regarding investment in Pakistan,” the PMO said. 




Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (center left) meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (center right) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 29, 2024. (Saudi Press Agency)

The statement added that both leaders agreed to further promote cooperation in different sectors as they discussed areas of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction over their meeting in Makkah earlier this month. 

“The situation in Gaza was also discussed in the meeting,” the PMO said. “The Prime Minister reiterated the invitation to the Saudi Crown Prince to visit Pakistan.”

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country.

Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been closely working to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, and the Kingdom recently reaffirmed its commitment to expedite an investment package worth $5 billion.

Pakistan set up the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a hybrid civil-military body, in June 2023 to attract international investments mainly from Gulf countries. The SIFC has identified mining, agriculture, energy and information technology as some of the key sectors where it hopes to attract foreign funding. 

Cash-strapped Pakistan desperately needs to shore up its foreign reserves and signal to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it can continue to meet requirements for foreign financing that has been a key demand in previous bailout packages. 

Saudi Arabia has often come to Pakistan’s aid in the past, regularly providing it oil on deferred payments and offering direct financial support to help stabilize its economy and shore up its forex reserves.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties

Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi

Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi
Updated 2 min 6 sec ago
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Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi

Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi
  • The event brought together students from various universities across the Rawalpindi and Islamabad divisions
  • The Girls Cricket Camp will continue on Tuesday to provide more participants a chance to demonstrate skills
Updated 2 min 6 sec ago
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as Zalmi Foundation, a Pakistani non-profit skills development organization, on Monday held trials of aspiring women cricketers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Zalmi Foundation completed day one of the trials for its Girls Cricket Camp at the Government Post Graduate College in Rawalpindi, aiming to empower women in sports and fostering gender equality through inclusive platforms.

The event, organized in collaboration with other organizations, brought together students from various universities across the Rawalpindi and Islamabad divisions to showcase their cricketing skills and compete at a national level.

“This event marks a turning point for women in sports in Pakistan,” said Dr. Saima Hamid, vice-chancellor of the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi. “By offering a space where young women can thrive and showcase their talent, the Zalmi Foundation is breaking down barriers and creating new possibilities for female athletes.”

Shabana Nawaz, deputy chief of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), described the event as a “powerful initiative to challenge the status quo.”

“By empowering women in sports, we are promoting equality and creating a future where young girls are not only encouraged but expected to excel in all areas, including sports,” she said.

On the occasion, Mohayyudin Ahmad Wani, special secretary at the Pakistani education ministry, emphasized the importance of collaboration to empower women in the country.

“The combination of education and sports is transformative. The Zalmi Foundation has taken a bold step by collaborating with NCSW and Dukhtar-e-Pakistan to provide opportunities that will shape the future of women in Pakistan,” he said.

Abbas Layaq, a top official of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, expressed his excitement over the talent displayed during the trials, saying the young women had “immense potential.”

“We are committed to ensuring that they have the resources and platform to succeed,” he added.

The Girls Cricket Camp will continue on Tuesday to provide more participants a chance to demonstrate their cricketing skills and book a place in the inaugural women’s cricket league.

Topics: Pakistan women cricket league Zalmi Foundation Peshawar Zalmi

Pakistan all-parties conference urges OIC to call emergency summit on Gaza war

Pakistan all-parties conference urges OIC to call emergency summit on Gaza war
Updated 49 min 40 sec ago
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Pakistan all-parties conference urges OIC to call emergency summit on Gaza war

Pakistan all-parties conference urges OIC to call emergency summit on Gaza war
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan will form a special working group to engage Islamic countries in raising a collective voice against Israeli actions
  • Joint communique of All Parties Conference calls for full implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution demanding end to Israeli occupation
Updated 49 min 40 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: An All Parties Conference (APC) in Pakistan on Monday called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an emergency summit to address the situation in Palestine, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing the formation of a special working group to engage other Islamic countries in raising a collective voice on Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The APC came as Pakistan observed Palestine Solidarity Day to mark one year of Israeli invasion of Gaza that has claimed the lives of more than 41,800 Palestinians so far.
The conference took place at the Presidency in Islamabad, with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Sharif, and leaders of key Pakistani political parties in attendance.
Speaking at the APC, PM Sharif said it was time for the Muslim World to move forward and take practical steps to prevent Israel from further bloodshed in Palestine.
“Pakistan has decided to form a special working group which will go to different lobbies and reach out to other countries in the Islamic world to raise a collective voice against Israeli atrocities,” he said.
“The first priority should be to stop the bloodshed in Palestine, which is a foremost duty and for this, the platform of the OIC is available.”
While reading out a joint communique by all parties, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the APC called for full implementation of a UN General Assembly resolution, ES 10/24 of September 18, which inter alia demanded an end to Israeli occupation.
“[This APC] calls on the OIC to convene an emerging emergency summit to discuss the situation in Palestine, Israel’s brutal aggression in the region and its implications for the regional peace and security and underscores the need for unity of the Islamic ummah,” Dar said.
He demanded implementation of provisional measures by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which called for preventing Israel from committing further acts of genocide against the Palestinian people, as well as the ICJ’s advisory opinion of July 19 that reaffirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation.
Dar said the APC expressed full support for the ongoing political and diplomatic efforts by the OIC, the League of Arab States, the United Nations and brotherly countries in addressing the prevailing situation in Palestine as well as for peace and stability of the broader region.
In his speech at the conference, President Zardari regretted the fact that the international community had failed to stop Israel from committing the “genocide” in Palestine.
“The prevailing culture of impunity and disregard for international law must be urgently addressed and it is crucial for the international community to take swift action to de-escalate the situation,” he said.
The president reiterated Pakistan’s firm support and vowed to continue raising its voice at all regional and international forums to stop Israel’s human rights violations and aggression against the Palestinians.
Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party supremo, questioned the world silence on Israel’s “genocide and war crimes” in Gaza.
“The government should contact the Islamic community after preparing recommendations for an effective role in the Palestine conflict, reflecting the nation’s desire to contribute decisively,” he said.
Nawaz urged Muslim countries to unite and develop a joint strategy to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Palestine.
“We have not seen such atrocities anywhere in the world as those being committed by Israel, yet many countries do not recognize it as a humanitarian crisis,” he added.
Speaking at the conference, Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman called for practical steps to help the Palestinians, instead of “passing resolutions and issuing condemnations.”
“A joint platform of leading Muslim countries should be formed to evolve a common strategy to face multiple challenges in Palestine,” he added.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Naeem-ur-Rehman said Pakistan had to take a very clear stance on Israeli brutalities against the Palestinians.
“Pakistan should take steps to convene a meeting of the Islamic countries to adopt a common stance in this regard,” he said, adding that Islamabad should play a proactive role to launch a diplomatic campaign to highlight this issue at world fora.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.

Topics: OIC Pakistan APC Gaza Israel Palestine Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan eyes up to $7 billion rice exports to support dwindling economy

Pakistan eyes up to $7 billion rice exports to support dwindling economy
Updated 07 October 2024
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Pakistan eyes up to $7 billion rice exports to support dwindling economy

Pakistan eyes up to $7 billion rice exports to support dwindling economy
  • While India has been the largest exporter of rice worldwide, Pakistan holds 25 percent of the European rice export market
  • Commerce Minister Jam Kamal stresses need for collaboration between government, exporters to maintain this edge
Updated 07 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal said on Monday the South Asian country aimed to boost its rice exports from the existing $4 billion to as much as $7 billion to support its dwindling economy, Pakistan state media reported.
Kamal said this during a meeting with the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) representatives. Rice exports play a vital role in Pakistan’s economy, ranking second in export value after cotton.
Pakistan is trying to navigate a prolonged economic crisis by actively pursuing foreign investments and enhanced trade opportunities, while it has also reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7 billion loan.
The South Asian holds 25 percent of the European rice export market, compared to India’s 16 percent, and there is a need for collaboration between the government and exporters to maintain this competitive edge, according to the commerce minister.
“Rice exports play a vital role in Pakistan’s economy, ranking second in export value after cotton,” Kamal was quoted as saying by the state-run APP news agency. “Rice exporters are a primary source of revenue and employment, with the government aiming to increase exports from $4 billion to $6-7 billion in the near future.”
Pakistan exported rice worth $3.9 billion this year as compared to $2.15 billion last year. It has also withdrawn the minimum export price for all rice varieties to compete with Indian exporters in the global market.
India has been the largest exporter of rice worldwide, followed by Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The South Asian arch-rivals are also the only countries that produce basmati rice which is famous for its unique flavour and aroma around the globe.
“We are focusing on improving our standards to meet international food safety requirements, especially in Europe,” Kamal said.
Increasing rice exports to Malaysia were also part of the discussions held during a recent visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who will host a business delegation led by Kamal in November to explore new opportunities.
REAP Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir said Pakistan’s rice exports faced fewer regulatory challenges with only 74 rapid alerts for pesticides issued last year compared to 264 for India, according to the APP report.
He said Pakistan remained one of the “lowest-risk countries” concerning food safety standards.
Stressing the need to educate farmers to improve quality of rice production, Kamal called for a joint effort by all stakeholders to develop a five-year strategy to enhance the country’s rice export capacity and international standards compliance.
He urged REAP to give proposals on how to meet the government’s export targets within the next year, keeping in mind the “stringent” food safety standards in the European Union.

Topics: rice Pakistan

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 
Updated 07 October 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 
  • Established in 2015, the Saudi charity organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world
  • Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of KSrelief’s humanitarian aid and has greatly benefited from its assistance since 2022 monsoon floods
Updated 07 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) is set to sign several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various organizations in Islamabad on Tuesday, Pakistani state media reported.

The Saudi charity organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world, which has allowed its officials to undertake a wide variety of projects in more than 80 countries. Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of its aid and humanitarian activities and has greatly benefited from its assistance since 2022 monsoon floods.

The event at which the agreements are to be signed will be attended by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, along with Pakistani government officials as well as representatives of international and local humanitarian organizations, the APP news agency reported on Monday, citing the Saudi Press Attaché Dr. Naif Al-Otaibi.

“These agreements will encompass aid and construction projects in multiple underprivileged regions of Pakistan, in alignment with KSrelief’s comprehensive aid plans,” he was quoted as saying by the APP.

Established in 2015, KSrelief aims for high humanitarian goals in its operations to provide assistance to the needy and disaster victims anywhere in the world, according to Dr. Naif.

These tasks are carried out by the United Nations (UN) bodies and international and local non-profit organizations under the right monitoring procedures and modern methods of rapid transition.

“These aid projects cover all areas of relief and humanitarian work, including food security, camp management, shelter, initial rehabilitation, conservation, education, water and environmental reform, nutrition, health, humanitarian aid support, including logistics services, and emergency communications,” he was quoted as saying.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties

Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest

Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest
Updated 07 October 2024
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Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest

Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest
  • Lt. Col. Muhammad Ali Shoukat and other soldiers were killed in an encounter with militants in North Waziristan
  • Pakistan blames a recent surge in militancy on groups operating from Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
Updated 07 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers, who were killed in a gunfight with militants in Pakistan’s restive northwest last week, were laid to rest in their native towns with full military honors, the Pakistani military said on Monday.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Ali Shoukat and five other soldiers were killed in an encounter with militants in the North Waziristan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

The gunfight late Friday night also left six militants dead in the restive district that borders Afghanistan.

“A large number of serving senior military officers, military personnel, families of martyrs and local elders attended the funeral prayers,” the ISPR said in a statement. “These sacrifices of our martyrs strengthen our determination and courage in the ongoing war against terrorism.”

Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent months and says militants mainly associated with the Pakistani Taliban frequently launch attacks from hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan, targeting police and other security forces.

Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militant groups. Kabul denies the charges.

Topics: Pakistan Army

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