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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia can increase bilateral trade to $20 billion – commerce minister

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia can increase bilateral trade to $20 billion – commerce minister
Pakistan's Caretaker Commerce Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz (left) meets chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, Hassan Al-Huwaizi, in Saudi Arabia on February 22, 2024. (Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia)
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Updated 22 February 2024
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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia can increase bilateral trade to $20 billion – commerce minister

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia can increase bilateral trade to $20 billion – commerce minister
  • Commerce Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz is in Saudi Arabia with a delegation of Pakistani businessmen
  • Dr. Ejaz says Saudi investors to invest in Pakistan’s mines, minerals and agricultural commodities 
Updated 22 February 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Commerce Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz said on Thursday that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can increase bilateral trade to $20 billion, inviting Saudi investors to invest in the country’s mines, minerals, and agricultural commodities. 

Ejaz is in Saudi Arabia with a prominent Pakistani business delegation to promote bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. On Thursday, he met the chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, Hassan Al-Huwaizi and chairman of the Saudi-Pakistani Business Council, Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Bash, Pakistan’s commerce ministry said.

“Saudi Arabia can increase trade with Pakistan to $10 billion,” Pakistan’s commerce ministry quoted Ejaz as saying. “Pakistan can increase trade volume with Saudi Arabia to 10 billion dollars.”

He said Saudi investors could avail “vast opportunities” for investment in Pakistan. 

“Saudi investors can invest in mines, minerals and agricultural commodities in Pakistan,” Ejaz was quoted as saying by the ministry. 

Speaking separately at the Saudi-Pakistani Business Forum event in Riyadh earlier on Thursday, Ejaz highlighted the role of the Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and his nation in increasing opportunities for investors from both regions. 

He reiterated his desire to increase the trade volume between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to $20 billion by improving the business environment between the two countries and encouraging the private sector. 

Pakistan enjoys strong economic and trade relations with Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is home to over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top source of remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.

Saudi Arabia has also frequently bailed Pakistan out of its economic crisis over the years, serving as an important strategic partner for the South Asian country. 

Last year a delegation of 15 top Pakistani IT companies led by IT Minister Dr. Umar Saif visited Saudi Arabia and signed deals to accelerate digital transformation, foster innovation and advance digital infrastructure. 

The agreements will also boost the ecosystems for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups and encourage the transfer of businesses and the exchange of information on accelerators and incubators.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties Pakistan Saudi Arabia

At least five killed in road crash in Pakistan’s Balochistan province

At least five killed in road crash in Pakistan’s Balochistan province
Updated 7 sec ago
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At least five killed in road crash in Pakistan’s Balochistan province

At least five killed in road crash in Pakistan’s Balochistan province
  • The crash occurred after driver of a speeding car lost control of it and hit a truck
  • Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan where traffic rules are rarely followed
Updated 7 sec ago
Saadullah Akhtar

QUETTA: At least five people were killed after a speeding car hit a truck in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, an official said on Friday.
The vehicle carrying five people onboard was en route to Loralai from Quetta, when it crashed into the truck coming from the opposite direction in Sarki Jangal area, according to Loralai Deputy Commissioner Meeran Baloch.
The accident occurred after the driver of the speeding car lost control at a curve section of the highway.
“Five people traveling in the car, including principal of the Government Boys Degree College Loralai, were killed,” Baloch told Arab News.
“The bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Loralai, where four of them have been identified.”
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, are in poor condition.
Such accidents are frequent in Balochistan where single-carriage roads connect various cities, and even some highways lack modern safety features.
Late last month, at least 12 people were killed and more than a dozen others sustained injuries in three fatal road accidents in the southwestern Pakistani province.

Topics: bus accident

Pakistan forms task force against Islamabad protesters as Imran Khan’s party seeks action against ministers

Pakistan forms task force against Islamabad protesters as Imran Khan’s party seeks action against ministers
Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan forms task force against Islamabad protesters as Imran Khan’s party seeks action against ministers

Pakistan forms task force against Islamabad protesters as Imran Khan’s party seeks action against ministers
  • Task force will be headed by the interior minister and will identify those who ‘spread violence’ in the capital
  • PTI’s information secretary shares 12 names, saying the party has evidence they were killed in Islamabad
Updated 29 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday formed a task force to identify and prosecute individuals involved in last week’s protest in Islamabad, as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed 12 supporters were killed in clashes and demanded police cases against top government ministers.
The PTI protest began on November 24 as the party supporters demanded the release of jailed leader, former premier Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year.
The government had warned against demonstrations in the federal capital, but protesters gathered in defiance, resulting in a crackdown against them. While PTI accuses the government of using live ammunition to kill and seriously injure demonstrators, officials claim PTI activists fired on security forces, killing five personnel.
The task force, headed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, was announced as Sharif chaired a high-level security meeting, with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir in attendance, in Islamabad.
“The task force will ensure those responsible for spreading chaos and violence on November 24 are identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law,” the PM Office said in the statement.
Meanwhile, PTI’s Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, speaking at a news conference in Peshawar, alleged that the government had indiscriminately targeted protesters, sharing names of 12 individuals the party said were killed.
He said videos and evidence from the protest site near the parliament building in Islamabad corroborated the party claims, adding that the actual death toll could be higher as many were missing or critically injured.
“We strongly demand police complaints be lodged against the prime minister, the interior minister and information minister,” he said. “Without this, public unrest will continue to grow.”
“We urge the judiciary to step forward and ensure these killers are brought to justice,” he added.
The government has also announced plans to create a federal riot control force, saying it would be equipped with international-standard resources and skills to prevent such protests in the future.

Topics: PTI protest PTI protests Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals
Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals
  • Warrior VIII, which began on November 19, aims to bolster counterterrorism capabilities
  • Pakistan’s army chief interacted with the participants of the exercise and praised their morale
Updated 29 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday visited the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in the Gujrat division of Punjab province, to observe a joint counterterrorism exercise between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said an official statement.
The three-week “Warrior VIII” exercise, which began on November 19, is the eighth iteration of bilateral training aimed at bolstering counterterrorism capabilities and enhancing military cooperation.
The exercise comes as China’s security concerns in Pakistan have grown following a spate of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on dozens of lucrative projects in the country.
“The COAS was briefed on the scope and conduct of the exercise,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said. “He also interacted with the participants of the exercise.”
Thousands of Chinese nationals have been working on the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for nearly a decade, with several of them being targeted by different militant groups operating in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, in March, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five Chinese engineers. A few months later, in October, a bombing near Karachi airport targeted Chinese workers ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Islamabad.
Beijing has voiced concerns over the safety of its citizens working in Pakistan and has reportedly proposed a joint security mechanism.
However, the foreign office said this month the two countries have a “robust dialogue and cooperation” on a range of issues, including counterterrorism and the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
It also expressed the government’s resolve to work with Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and security of their nationals, as well as their projects and investments.
According to Voice of America, Warrior VIII is the first joint counterterrorism exercise between the two countries in five years.
The ISPR said General Munir also praised the professionalism and high morale of the officers and soldiers participating in the joint military exercise.

Topics: Pakistan Army Pakistan China Ties joint military exercises

European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister
Updated 29 November 2024
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European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister
  • The development will revive PIA’s flights to Europe, strengthen the government’s privatization drive
  • Pakistan’s Airblue has secured Third Country Operator authorization to fly to European destinations
Updated 29 November 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after a span of four years, Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday, commending all the relevant officials who made the breakthrough possible.
The ban on PIA flights was imposed in 2020 after a crash in Karachi killed 97 people, followed by a former Pakistani aviation minister’s statement claiming that nearly 40 percent of local pilots held “dubious” licenses.
This statement raised global concerns about safety oversight, leading to the grounding of PIA’s European operations.
The suspension added to PIA’s financial troubles, as the debt-ridden national carrier continued to incur losses amid its struggle to recover from a tarnished reputation. The government also faced difficulties privatizing the airline, a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent loan negotiations, due to its precarious financial situation.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote in a social media post.

He also announced that the decision granted Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization to another Pakistani airline, Airblue, marking a significant development for the aviation sector.
TCO authorization granted by EASA allows non-European airlines to operate commercial flights into, within or out of European Union airspace.
Airblue, Pakistan’s second-largest airline, operates domestic and regional routes and is expected to explore European operations following the TCO authorization.
Responding to the development, PIA lauded the lifting of the ban as a testament to its adherence to international safety standards.
“This milestone ensures that the entire nation can once again travel directly to European destinations with their national airline,” the airline said in a statement, adding it had worked tirelessly over the past four years to meet EASA’s safety requirements.

“The PIA administration will remain fully compliant with EASA and its rules and regulations,” it added.
Asif credited the lifting of the suspension to reforms in Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which he said were aimed at aligning the regulator with international standards.
“I am grateful to the European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensuring aviation safety in Pakistan,” he said in the social media message.
The development is expected to help revive PIA’s European operations and strengthen the government’s privatization efforts by improving the airline’s appeal to potential investors.

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days
Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days
  • Total number of applications received so far is 11,000 more than during the corresponding period last year
  • Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210, evenly split between the government and private tour operators
Updated 29 November 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday that 38,000 Hajj applications had been received in the first 10 days of the submission period, 11,000 more than during the same period last year.
The surge comes as Pakistan prepares to send 179,210 pilgrims for the annual Islamic pilgrimage in 2025, under a quota evenly divided between government and private Hajj schemes.
“By the tenth day, 38,000 Hajj applications have been received,” a ministry said in a statement, adding that designated banks would continue accepting applications over the weekend. The final deadline for submissions is Dec. 3.
Pilgrims under the regular Hajj scheme can secure their booking with an initial payment of Rs200,000 ($719), according to the statement.
Pakistan has steadily improved facilities for pilgrims in recent years.
One key initiative is the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete formalities at their departure airports.
Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of travelers.
Efforts have also included the launch of a mobile application, Pak Hajj 2025, to provide pilgrims with essential updates, flight details and navigation assistance in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims annually to Makkah, with Pakistan consistently being among the largest contributors of pilgrims.

Topics: Hajj 2025 Pakistan Hajj Pakistan Hajj mission Hajj applications

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