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Pakistan considers Saudi Arabia an important partner, says minister

Saudi Arabia has historically remained the single largest source of remittances to Pakistan with $399.56 million received in April 2018 alone, according to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan. (Photo/Twitter)
Updated 30 September 2018
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Pakistan considers Saudi Arabia an important partner, says minister

  • Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share 'historic and strategic ties' which the incumbent government aims to strengthen further, says Minister for Information and Broadcast Fawad Chaudhry
  • Saudi Arabia can play a pivotal role in forging Muslim unity and improve Pakistan-US ties, believe experts
Updated 30 September 2018
Muhammad Ishtiaq

ISLAMABAD: “There are historic brotherly relations between our two countries and Pakistan considers Saudi Arabia an important partner,” Fawad Chaudhry, minister for information and broadcast, told Arab News.  
Pakistan has "historic and strategic ties" with Saudi Arabia and the incumbent government will strengthen them further, he added.  
Noor ul Haq Qadri, Pakistan's minister of religious affairs and interfaith harmony, told Arab News, “To travel to Saudi Arabia and strengthen ties will be PM Khan’s first priority.”  
Last month, congratulating Khan on his election victory, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed a range of bilateral issues with the prime minister, ending the call with an invitation for the prime minister to visit the country.
“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Pakistan had enormous trade and economic opportunities and his country was keen to make investment in Pakistan and strengthen bilateral trade relations,” Pakistan's state-run television PTV said after the telephone conversation.
Sen. Lt. Gen. (retired) Abdul Qayum told Arab News that Khan’s visit to Saudi would be a good start for the government because of the deep-rooted ties between Islamabad and Riyadh.
The visit “will go well with the public," Qayum said, adding that the move would cement the love and respect that many Pakistanis have for the country. "Pakistan also knows that for forging Muslim unity, Saudi Arabia can play a pivotal role,” he added. 
“Saudi Arabia can also play a pivotal role in improving Pakistan-US ties,” said Qayum, adding that Khan can also discuss Pakistan's financial woes with Saudi Arabia given the country's cash-strapped economy which is strugglng to survive and desperately looking for foreign investment. 
“During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Imran Khan can perhaps discuss Pakistan’s financial woes with the Kingdom,” Qayum said. 
There are nearly 1.6 million Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, making them the second-largest group of expatriates living in the country. The majority of them are blue collar workers.

Saudi Arabia has historically remained the single largest source of remittances to Pakistan with $399.56 million received in April 2018 alone, according to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan.

Topics: international news latest news headline latest news in english Pakistan Saudi Arabia Pakistan Saudi Ties

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Three Pakistani soldiers, 19 militants killed in clashes in restive northwest

Updated 07 January 2025
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Three Pakistani soldiers, 19 militants killed in clashes in restive northwest

  • The clashes took places in Peshawar, Mohmad and Karak districts of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
  • Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies allegation
Updated 07 January 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani soldiers and 19 militants were killed in separate clashes in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday.
Security forces killed eight militants in an intelligence-based operation in Matani area of KP’s Peshawar district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Another eight militants were killed in an operation in the Mohmand district. A third engagement resulted in the killing of three militants and three soldiers in KP’s Karak district.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji [militant] found in the area,” the ISPR said in a statement.
Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in militant attacks in recent months, particularly in KP and the southwestern Balochistan province.
In 2024 alone, the military reported that 383 soldiers and 925 militants were killed in various clashes.
The Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are one of the most prominent militant groups that have regularly targeted security forces in KP along with separatist militants operating in the restive southwest.
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan KP militancy

Ex-PM Khan’s party demands ‘unfettered’ access to him for talks with Pakistan government to succeed

Updated 54 min 56 sec ago
Usama Iqbal Khawaja
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Ex-PM Khan’s party demands ‘unfettered’ access to him for talks with Pakistan government to succeed

  • The government last week said it had facilitated meetings with Khan, but his party remained ‘indecisive’ about formalizing its demands
  • The two sides have held two rounds of negotiations since last month to end a political deadlock, but have failed to make a headway
Updated 54 min 56 sec ago
Usama Iqbal Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s party on Tuesday demanded the government provide it “unfettered” access to the jailed ex-premier, saying it was the only way to demonstrate “seriousness” to end an ongoing political impasse in the country.
Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly since he was jailed in August 2023 on corruption and other charges. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has regularly held protests to demand his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent.
The two sides kicked off negotiations last month and have held two rounds of talks to end the political deadlock, but have failed to make a headway. The PTI and the government’s last round of talks on Jan. 2 ended inconclusively after Khan’s party demanded more time to meet and consult the ex-PM before submitting their demands in writing.
A government spokesperson last week said the government had facilitated Khan’s party by arranging its meetings with the ex-premier in jail, but the PTI remained “indecisive” about formalizing their demands despite written assurances made in joint declarations issued after talks between both sides.
“In the second and last session of our negotiations committee, we had clearly conveyed to the government that our unmonitored, unfettered meeting be arranged with [former] prime minister Imran Khan, in which there is no monitoring in that room,” PTI leader Omar Ayub said at a presser on Tuesday, adding their meetings with Khan were held in a small room, with cameras and other monitoring devices installed.
“In that environment, discussions can’t be held freely.”
Ayub said the government committee had promised to facilitate such a meeting, but they had been no development since.
“We have not received any information [about the meeting] so far from the government,” he said, adding the government’s arrangement of a meeting with Khan in an “unfettered environment, without restrictions,” would demonstrate its seriousness for talks.
Last week, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation committee, said the talks could encounter “serious hurdles” due to the PTI’s failure to submit its demands in writing at the next meeting.
“If the PTI does not submit its demands in writing as promised, the negotiation process may face serious hurdles,” Siddiqui was quoted as saying by the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
“Even after 12 days, no significant progress has been made.”
The two sides held the first round of talks on Dec. 23. Khan’s party has previously stated two demands: the release of all political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024, which the government says involved Khan supporters, accusing them of attacking military installations and government buildings.
The talks between the two sides opened days after Khan threatened a civil disobedience movement, and amid growing concerns he may face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9, 2023 protests.

Topics: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Government PTI talks

PM Sharif, Gen. Munir among several Pakistanis make it to list of 500 Most Influential Muslims for 2025

Updated 07 January 2025
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PM Sharif, Gen. Munir among several Pakistanis make it to list of 500 Most Influential Muslims for 2025

  • The list includes honorary mention of former PM Imran Khan as well as several Pakistani religious scholars
  • Malala Yousafzai, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Abida Parveen and Prof. Dr. Adibul Hasan Rizvi have also been named
Updated 07 January 2025
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir, former PM Imran Khan, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani and several other Pakistanis have been listed among 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2025.
‘The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims’ is an annual publication, first published in 2009, that ranks the most influential Muslims in the world. The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman, Jordan.
It ascertains the influence some Muslim figures have on the Ummah culturally, ideologically, financially, politically or otherwise to make a change that will have a significant impact on Muslims around the world.
This year, the publication has named several Pakistanis, from civilian and military rulers to philanthropists and people known for their exceptional work in various disciplines of life.
“Shehbaz Sharif became the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan in March 2024, having served as the 23rd Prime Minister (2022-23) after a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” the publication wrote about the Pakistan premier.
“Sharif is the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and has himself had a long political career, being the President of the Pakistan Muslim League and serving as the Chief Minister of Punjab three times (1997, 2007 and 2013).”
The list included the name of Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir.
“A descendant of a religious and scholarly family, Asim is also known as the first army chief in the history of Pakistan to be a Hafiz Qur’an (memorized the entire Qur’an),” the publication wrote.
“He served as chief of both premier military intelligence agencies of Pakistan.”
The Muslim 500 had an honorary mention of former PM Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges.
“Imran Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018 amid huge expectations that he could bring the country forward on issues of governance, accountability and reduction of corruption. He endured a tough time before being ousted in April 2022 through a no-confidence motion,” it said.
“Khan still maintains massive popular support in the country as well as with the large and powerful Pakistani diaspora.”
The publication included names of Pakistani religious figures Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Maulana Tariq Jameel, Maulana Nazur ur-Rahman and Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri among the most influential Muslims around the world.
Other Pakistanis mentioned on the list were Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, an internationally acclaimed journalist, filmmaker and activist, ‘Queen of Sufi mystic singing’ Abida Parveen, Na’atkhuwan Owais Raza Qadri and humanitarian Professor Dr. Adibul Hasan Rizvi.
“Dr. Rizvi is one of Pakistan’s leading humanitarians, having established the largest free health organization in Pakistan. He works as a doctor and an administrator at SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation) in Karachi, which was founded in 1971 as an eight-bed unit but is now the largest health organization in Pakistan,” the publication wrote.
“SIUT provides free and comprehensive services in urology, nephrology, transplantation, and liver-related diseases. He is the recipient of many awards for his life’s work.”

Topics: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims The Muslim 500 Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan

Pakistan fined, docked 5 points for slow over rate against South Africa

Updated 07 January 2025
AP
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Pakistan fined, docked 5 points for slow over rate against South Africa

  • Pakistan was ruled to be five overs short of target after time allowances were taken into consideration
  • South Africa swept Pakistan 2-0 in the series with a 10-wicket win inside four days in the second Test
Updated 07 January 2025
AP

DUBAI: The ICC has fined Pakistan players 25 percent of their match fee and also docked the team five World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the second Test at Newlands.
South Africa, which will take on Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in June, swept Pakistan 2-0 in the series with a 10-wicket win inside four days in the second Test.
The ICC said in a statement that match referee Richie Richardson of the West Indies imposed the sanction after “Pakistan was ruled to be five overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.”
According to the ICC code of conduct, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. The teams are also penalized one WTC point for each over short.
The ICC also said that Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
Pakistan is at No. 8 in the points table just above last-placed West Indies.

Topics: Pakistan vs South Africa Pakistan cricket team

Pakistan to hire consultant in few weeks for regulatory framework on satellite-based Internet

Updated 07 January 2025
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Pakistan to hire consultant in few weeks for regulatory framework on satellite-based Internet

  • Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million, has witnessed up to 40 percent drop in Internet speeds in the last few months
  • The country is in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite Internet provider, plans to link up with 2Africa submarine cable
Updated 07 January 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be hiring a consultant to finalize regulations regarding satellite-based Internet services in the country, its information technology (IT) ministry said on Monday.
The statement came after State Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review progress on licensing of Starlink Services, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, and regulatory frameworks for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
Pakistan, a country of over 240 million, has witnessed up to 40 percent drop in Internet speeds in the last few months, according to the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP).
The drop came as the federal government last year moved to implement a nationwide firewall to block malicious content and protect government networks from cyberattacks, with IT associations saying the slowdowns have resulted in significant losses.
“During the meeting, it was decided that consultant hiring will be completed in a few weeks, for regulations,” the Pakistani IT ministry said.
“The minister emphasized the need for aligning Pakistan’s policies with global standards to unlock satellite technology’s full potential for national growth.”
Pakistan suffered a total of $1.62 billion losses due to Internet outages and social media shutdowns in 2024, according to a report by global Internet monitor Top10VPN.com, surpassing losses in war-torn countries like Sudan and Myanmar.
The report, released on Jan. 2, said Pakistan experienced 9,735 hours of Internet disruptions that affected 82.9 million users, with elections and protests cited as the primary causes.
The IT state minister last month confirmed that Pakistan was in talks with Musk’s Starlink to bring satellite Internet services to the country.
“Discussions [at Monday’s meeting] focused on expediting these processes to ensure a robust regulatory framework for LEO satellites, enhancing connectivity, and driving technological innovation,” the IT ministry added.
Pakistan also plans to enhance its Internet speeds and connectivity by linking up with the 2Africa submarine cable later this year, according to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), which regulates Internet in the South Asian country.
2Africa, one of the world’s largest submarine cable systems, spans 45,000 kilometers and connects 46 locations across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, offering speeds of up to 180 Tbps.

Topics: Pakistan internet Starlink satellites

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