You are here

  • Home
  • Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia today to bolster bilateral trade, investment ties

Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia today to bolster bilateral trade, investment ties

Update Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia today to bolster bilateral trade, investment ties
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 29, 2024. (Saudi Press Agency/REUTERS/File)
Short Url

https://arab.news/m52ke

Updated 05 June 2025
Follow

Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia today to bolster bilateral trade, investment ties

Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia today to bolster bilateral trade, investment ties
  • Shehbaz Sharif to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during visit to Kingdom, says foreign office
  • Pakistan has tried to strengthen trade ties with Saudi Arabia recently, signing agreements worth billions of dollars
Updated 05 June 2025
Muhammad Ibrahim
Follow

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia today, Thursday, with a high-level delegation to strengthen trade, investment and bilateral relations with the Kingdom, the foreign office said, and to thank its leadership for de-escalating Pakistan’s military conflict with India.

Pakistan has tried to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) ties with the Kingdom, with both sides announcing during Sharif’s visit to Riyadh last October they had signed 34 memorandums of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion to enhance private sector collaboration and commercial partnerships.

Saudi Arabia played a prominent role in defusing Pakistan’s military conflict with India last month. Both countries had fired missiles, carried out drone strikes, used fighter jets and artillery against each other before Washington brokered a ceasefire on May 10.

Pakistan’s foreign office said Sharif will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the Kingdom from June 5-6, which will coincide with the Eid Al-Adha Muslim festival.

“Discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas, including trade and investment, the welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and regional peace and security,” the foreign office said.

“The Prime Minister will also express gratitude to the Saudi leadership for its constructive role in de-escalating the recent Pakistan-India conflict.”

The statement said Sharif’s visit reflects deep-rooted ties with Saudi Arabia.

“It reaffirms the leadership’s commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic engagement, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s development priorities,” the foreign office said.

The foreign office said Sharif’s visit is expected to “further solidify” Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations and open new avenues for multifaceted collaboration.

Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar confirmed Sharif would visit the Kingdom to thank its leadership for its support to Pakistan during the India conflict.

“The prime minister will go tomorrow, and I will also go with him,” Dar told reporters at a news briefing in Islamabad. “We will go there to thank them for their solidarity and support.”

Saudi Arabia presents a key export opportunity for Pakistani businesses, given its strong consumer demand and ambitious Vision 2030 economic reforms that emphasize diversification and foreign investments.

Pakistan has a 2.7 million-strong diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which accounts for the highest remittance inflow, a crucial lifeline for the country’s economy.

Topics: Shehbaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation

Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation
Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation

Pakistan, US hold new round of trade talks amid tariff tensions, eye wider cooperation
  • Pakistan’s finance chief, US officials discuss trade in traditional and non-traditional sectors
  • Finance ministry says both sides optimistic ongoing trade talks will yield positive outcomes
Updated 7 sec ago
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistan and the United States explored ways to broaden their trade partnership beyond textiles, a statement released in Islamabad said on Friday, as their officials held high-level talks in Washington to finalize a trade deal and address recently imposed US tariffs.

The meeting between Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer followed a virtual discussion between Aurangzeb and Lutnick last month, during which both sides agreed to push negotiations forward “at the earliest.”

The talks come after the US imposed a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports under President Donald Trump’s trade measures announced in April, a move Islamabad said could undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.

“Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasized that the US remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner and underscored Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation in both traditional and non-traditional sectors, including the IT & tech sector, minerals and agriculture, to foster a mutually beneficial relationship,” Pakistan’s finance ministry said in a statement.

It added officials from both countries were pleased with the progress made so far in deepening trade and economic relations, which they described as a key pillar of the broader Pakistan-US partnership.

They reaffirmed their shared commitment to finding new ways to strengthen cooperation across all areas where both countries stand to benefit.

Nearly 90 percent of Pakistan’s exports to the US are textiles, a sector that is most vulnerable to the duties.

The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in FY2024. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Pakistan is also seeking to diversify its trade destinations and export base to mitigate risks related to its international trade.

“Both parties expressed optimism that ongoing trade talks would yield positive outcomes, benefiting the economies of both countries,” the ministry said in its statement.

Topics: Pakistan US Ties Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb Pakistan US trade deal

Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 

Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 
Updated 18 July 2025
Follow

Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 

Spotify names Pakistani artist Afusic to Radar program 
  • Breakout single ‘Pal Pal’ tops 64 million streams as artist’s listenership surges
  • Spotify says Afusic’s audience has grown over 1,200 percent since April 2025
Updated 18 July 2025
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Spotify has named rising Pakistani musician Afusic as its featured artist for the third quarter of 2025 under its global Radar program, spotlighting the viral star’s rapid ascent in the country’s evolving music scene.

Afusic — the stage name of Affan Khan — gained widespread recognition this year after his single “Pal Pal” went viral on the platform, amassing over 64 million streams. The song’s success has placed him among a new wave of artists reshaping Pakistan’s independent music landscape.

As the Pakistani music industry undergoes a digital transformation, platforms like Spotify have played a key role in spotlighting emerging talent and connecting local voices with global audiences.

“Spotify’s Radar Pakistan returns this quarter, spotlighting Afusic as its latest featured artist,” Pakistani agency Asiatic Public Relations said in a statement on Friday. “This milestone marks a significant moment in his rapidly rising career with his viral track ‘Pal Pal’ being featured on the Radar Pakistan playlist.”

According to Spotify data shared by the agency, Afusic’s audience has surged by more than 1,200 percent since April 2025, with his music landing on nearly 270,000 playlists globally.

Streams have spiked over 440,000 percent since the song debuted in the platform’s Fresh Finds Pakistan playlist in February.

“In the past 28 days alone, the demographic breakdown of his global audience reveals a strong connection with younger listeners — 60 percent male and 40 percent female — led by the 18–24 age group, followed closely by 25–34-year-olds,” the statement said.

Afusic called the Radar selection a “huge moment.”

“Radar is an incredible platform that shines a light on independent artists and helps us reach new audiences, while also giving fans a chance to connect with who we are beyond the music,” he said. “I’m truly grateful for the support Spotify has shown me — watching ‘Pal Pal’ grow from Fresh Finds to Hot Hits Pakistan shows just how powerful this journey can be.”

Afusic joins past Radar Pakistan alumni including Hasan Raheem, Taha G, Shae Gill, and Rovalio, all of whom have gained both domestic and international acclaim in recent years.

Topics: Afusic Spotify Pakistan Pakistani music

Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body

Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body
Updated 18 July 2025
Follow

Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body

Police say no toxins detected in Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s body
  • Ali’s decomposed body was found in her apartment on July 8, nearly nine months after her death
  • Police say while it appears to be a natural death, the possibility of murder has not been ruled out
Updated 18 July 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistani police said on Friday no toxic substances were found in the body of Humaira Asghar Ali, a 42-year-old actress whose remains were discovered in Karachi last week, nine months after her death.

Ali, originally from Lahore, had been living alone in a rented apartment in Karachi’s Ittehad Commercial area for nearly seven years while pursuing an acting career.

Her decomposed body was discovered on July 8 when a court-appointed bailiff broke into her apartment to vacate the property over unpaid rent.

“The chemical report confirms that no sedative, psychotic, narcotic or poisonous substance was detected in the samples,” said Mahroz Ali, Senior Superintendent of Police, citing findings by the Industrial Analytical Center at the University of Karachi’s HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry.

The forensic analysis included tests on hair, lung and liver samples, and found no evidence of foul play from toxic substances.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Syed Asad Raza, police believe Ali died sometime between the evening of October 7 and 8, 2024.

Speaking in an interview with Arab News last week, Raza said the considerable delay in discovering the body has complicated the investigation.

“We are pursuing four possibilities: natural death, accidental death, suicide or homicide,” Raza said. “At present, natural or accidental death appears more likely based on the available evidence.”

The room where the body was found served as both a painting studio and a passage to the washroom.

Raza noted Ali may have slipped and fallen while doing laundry.

A tub filled with washed clothes was discovered in the washroom, suggesting she may have been in the process of household chores at the time of the incident, though there was no blood around her.

“There were no fractured bones, no signs of bleeding and no evidence of a physical struggle,” Raza said. “Typically, in cases of foul play, there are signs of resistance, but we didn’t find any.”

Despite the absence of overt signs of foul play, Raza said investigators are not ruling out any possibilities, including third-party involvement.

“It’s a remote possibility, but we are continuing to investigate that angle,” he said.

Police have collected and sent digital devices found at the scene, including mobile phones and tablets, for forensic analysis, he added.

Topics: Humaira Asghar Ali

Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group

Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group
Updated 18 July 2025
Follow

Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group

Pakistan says Kashmir tourist attack probe ‘inconclusive’ as US blacklists militant group
  • US designated The Resistance Front a ‘terrorist organization’ for briefly claiming responsibility for Pahalgam attack
  • Islamabad says New Delhi has ‘a track record of exploiting such designations to push anti-Pakistan propaganda’
Updated 18 July 2025
Usama Iqbal Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Friday a probe into the April killing of 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir remained inconclusive, hours after the United States designated a Lashkar-e-Taiba-affiliated group as a terrorist entity, and accused India of using such listings to spread an anti-Pakistan narrative internationally.

The group in question, The Resistance Front (TRF), also known as Kashmir Resistance, was blacklisted by Washington on Thursday as a “foreign terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorist” in connection with the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the group had claimed responsibility for the assault before withdrawing its statement, and described TRF as a “front and proxy” of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based outfit banned under US law.

Responding to the development, Pakistan’s foreign office said it had “zero tolerance” for militant entities, though any link between TRF and Lashkar-e-Taiba “belies ground realities,” noting the latter was a defunct group that had been banned in Pakistan.

“Investigations into the Pahalgam incident, that happened in the internationally recognized disputed region of IIOJK, are still inconclusive,” the statement read, using Pakistan’s official abbreviation for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan has effectively and comprehensively dismantled concerned outfits, arrested and prosecuted the leadership, and deradicalized its cadres,” it continued.

The foreign office also said India had a track record of leveraging such terror listings to deflect global scrutiny from its human rights record in Kashmir and elsewhere.

“India has a track record of exploiting such designations to push anti-Pakistan propaganda with a view to divert international attention from its irresponsible and rogue behavior, including ongoing human rights atrocities, especially in IIOJK,” the statement said.

Pakistan cited its cooperation with international partners against extremist groups and the arrest of high-profile militants, including Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind of the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that killed 13 US service members and about 170 Afghan civilians.

In April, after India blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad called for a neutral and impartial investigation.

The attack triggered days of cross-border hostilities, with India targeting what it described as “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan on May 7. The escalation — involving missiles, drones and artillery — left dozens dead before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.

The foreign office said Pakistan urged the international community to adopt “objective and non-discriminatory policies” on counterterrorism and called for other groups, such as the Majeed Brigade of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), to be designated under US law.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the BLA and other separatist groups operating in the volatile southwestern province of Balochistan of being Indian proxies, a claim New Delhi denies.

With input from Reuters

Topics: Pakistan India Conflict MOFA Pakistan US Ties Pahalgam attack

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting
Updated 18 July 2025
Follow

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting
  • The understanding comes during the Libyan armed forces commander-in-chief’s visit to Pakistan
  • Defense ties between both countries remain robust with Pakistan training Libyan military officers
Updated 18 July 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Libya have agreed to pursue defense industrial collaboration and exchange technical expertise to tackle security challenges, according to an official statement issued on Friday after a meeting between the top army commanders of the two countries.

The meeting took place in Rawalpindi between Libyan Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Lt Gen Saddam Khalifa Haftar and Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Defense ties between the two countries date back to the Cold War era, when Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi famously called Pakistan “the fort of Islam” at the 1974 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Lahore and later supported its arms procurement efforts.

In the post-Qaddafi period, the two nations signed a series of memoranda of understanding focused on labor, education and political consultations, laying the groundwork for broader cooperation.

“Meeting encompassed discussion on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional dynamics, security challenges and matters pertaining to defense cooperation,” the ISPR said in a statement after the meeting.

“Both leaders agreed to undertake defense industrial collaboration and exchange of technical expertise to address contemporary security challenges.”

Haftar was presented a guard of honor by a Pakistan Army contingent upon his arrival at the General Headquarters, where he laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Corner.

The ISPR statement maintained the visit by Libya’s top military leadership marks a significant step in reinforcing the longstanding defense partnership between both countries.

Pakistan and Libya established diplomatic relations in 1951 and have maintained friendly ties rooted in shared Islamic heritage and cultural bonds.

Bilateral trade reached approximately $19 million in 2022–23, while defense ties remain robust, with Pakistan having trained Libyan officers in aviation, infantry and technical fields in the past.

Topics: Pakistan Army Pakistan Libya ties

Latest updates

Solo but not sad: Young Saudis embrace freedom of living alone
Solo but not sad: Young Saudis embrace freedom of living alone
Aseer’s blooming bounty: How rare flowers turn southern region into a year-round honey hub
Aseer’s blooming bounty: How rare flowers turn southern region into a year-round honey hub
Saudi deputy FM meets Italian foreign ministry official
Riccardo Guariglia (R) receives Waleed Elkhereiji in Rome. (Supplied)
City Hub Festival in Al-Baha attracts thousands
The event includes the Circus Tent area, which dazzles audiences with professional performances. (SPA)
Saudi authority thwarts smuggling of captagon haul
Saudi authority thwarts smuggling of captagon haul

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.