ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan Saudi leadership that his country would stand by Saudi Arabia if the sanctity and security of the holiest Muslim places in the Kingdom were in danger, said the PM Office on Friday.
“Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks on oil installations in Abqaiq and Khurais and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia against any threat to its security and territorial integrity,” the statement read.
During the visit, Khan held wide-ranging talks with the Saudi leadership.
Extending a warm welcome to the Prime Minister, the Saudi leadership underscored that the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is based on “real brotherhood,” the PM office said.
Khan held separate meetings with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
“The two sides underlined the deep and multi-faceted quality of the relationship and reaffirmed the resolve to enrich it further in myriad dimensions,” according to the official handout.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, and PM’s special aide for overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari accompanied the premier.
In meetings with Saudi leadership PM Khan also underscored, in detail, the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in the “Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and the grave risks posed to peace and security in the aftermath of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August and its irresponsible and belligerent rhetoric and actions.”
“Noting that the indefensible lockdown of over 8 million Kashmiris had continued for 46 days,” Khan stressed the need of urgently lifting the curfew and restrictions, respect for the rights and freedom of Kashmiris, and resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the pivotal role that OIC’s consistent support for the Kashmir cause has played.
“The Saudi leadership expressed concern over the situation and reiterated its steadfast support and solidarity for the Kashmir cause,” the statement said.
On the bilateral plane, the Prime Minister recalled the historic visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in February 2019 and noted that it had imparted a strong momentum to the growth trajectory of the relationship.
“The two sides reiterated the resolve to further intensify bilateral trade, energy, investment and people-to-people contacts,” the statement said.
Khan also conveyed sincere gratitude for Pakistan’s inclusion in the Road-To-Makkah Project and hoped for its extension to other major cities in Pakistan.
This was Prime Minister Imran Khan’s fourth visit to Saudi Arabia since assuming office in August 2018. His last visit was in May 2019 to attend the 14th Session of the OIC Islamic Summit in Makkah.
Prime Minister office said that the long-standing Pakistan-Saudi fraternal ties are marked by trust, understanding, mutual support and standing by each other.
Saudi Arabia hosts the largest number of Pakistani diaspora anywhere in the world.
Saudi Arabia is among the founding members of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir.
After concluding his visit to the Kingdom, he will continue his journey to New York where he will attend the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the PM Office added.
Governor Makkah Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz received Khan at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport. Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi Arabia, Raja Ali Ejaz, was also in attendance.
Pakistan reiterates stand for Saudi Arabia’s security
Pakistan reiterates stand for Saudi Arabia’s security
- Pakistani prime minister held meetings with the Saudi leadership during his two-day official visit
- Saudi leadership reiterated its “steadfast support and solidarity for the Kashmir cause,” PM office said
Pakistan army says 11 militants killed in four operations in northwest
- Pakistan is battling spike in attacks by indigenous chapter of Taliban movement, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
- Islamabad says militants use safe havens in Afghanistan to carry out cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies
ISLAMABAD: Eleven militants were killed in four operations in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan army said on Thursday night, amid a surge in attacks across the country.
Pakistan is battling a spike in attacks by an indigenous chapter of the Taliban movement, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, on police and military in areas near the Afghan border. The military has been conducting near-daily operations against militants, especially in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces.
Islamabad says militants use safe havens in Afghanistan to carry out cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies.
“On 26-27 March 2025, eleven Khwarij [militants] were killed by the security forces in four separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,” the army said in a statement.
Two intelligence-based operation was conducted in Mir Ali in North Waziristan District, with eight militants killed. Two more were killed in Miran Shah while one was killed in a fourth operation in Dera Ismail Khan District.
“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities,” the army said.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”
PM Sharif says Huawei’s program to train 300,000 Pakistanis will boost exports, generate jobs
- Pakistan, Huawei last year signed agreement to train 300,000 Pakistanis in information and communication technologies
- Program, scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025, will see 60,000 Pakistanis receive high-tech training, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week said Chinese multinational technology company Huawei’s program to train 300,000 Pakistanis will generate employment in the country and boost its exports, state-run media reported.
Pakistan and Huawei last year signed an agreement to train 300,000 Pakistani youths in information and communication technology (ICT) skills to match international standards. Huawei is providing training to Pakistani youth in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing and other advanced technologies under the initiative.
The Pakistani prime minister met a five-member delegation of the company, headed by its Chief Executive Officer Ethen Sun on Thursday, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
“Shehbaz Sharif said the government seeks a solid and long-term partnership with Huawei,” it said. “He highlighted that Huawei’s ICT training program will not only boost IT exports but will also help create employment opportunities for youth.”
Sharif’s office said earlier this month that Huawei has trained over 20,000 Pakistanis under the program. He was briefed by the delegation that 240,000 youths will receive basic training while 60,000 will undergo high-tech training under the initiative.
“The training is expected to be completed by the end of this year,” Radio Pakistan said.
The state media said Huawei has additionally, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, introduced courses in AI, cloud computing, big data and cybersecurity in 15 Pakistani universities.
Pakistan views ICT as a driver of economic change and seeks to transform the sector into a cornerstone of its strategy for financial stability, courting foreign investment from countries like China and the Gulf states.
In its bid to generate more jobs countrywide, Sharif launched the Digital Youth Hub portal in Islamabad on Thursday.
The initiative will connect young people to jobs, educational opportunities and enhance skills development in the country.
Sharif’s government has repeatedly spoken of putting Pakistan on the track to economic recovery by increasing its exports. In its economic transformation plan issued this year, the government says it hopes to achieve $60 billion in exports in the next five years.
Pakistan PM launches ‘Digital Youth Hub’ to enhance employment, educational opportunities
- Digital Youth Hub platform connects young people to jobs, educational and skills development programs
- Estimates suggest approximately 64 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30 years
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the “Digital Youth Hub” portal in Islamabad on Thursday, saying it would connect young people to jobs, education and enhance skills development in the country, state-run media reported.
Estimates suggest approximately 64 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, offering a significant opportunity to drive economic growth through a young workforce contributing to entrepreneurship, innovation and diversification.
A joint initiative of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and UNICEF, the PMYP’s website describes the Digital Youth Hub as a “comprehensive platform” to connect the younger generation with employment opportunities, educational scholarships, entrepreneurship programs and technical skills.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Islamabad, Sharif stressed harnessing the true potential of the youth by imparting them with training in modern technologies such as information technology, artificial intelligence and vocational training.
“The Prime Minister said modern technology is the prerequisite in the current global world and the Digital Youth Hub is the beginning of a bright future of the youth of Pakistan,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report.
He said the youth’s productive employment through this portal is this government’s top priority.
The Pakistani premier said he was committed to fighting for the rights of the youth, providing them educational opportunities and modern training in collaboration with the country’s provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan regions.
“Shehbaz Sharif said the youth of Pakistan are a great challenge and opportunity, and there is a need to polish this challenge and opportunity through the latest technology,” Radio Pakistan said.
“He said productive employment of youth is the main target of the government through this portal.”
Despite Pakistan’s massive young population, the youth bulge also poses challenges, including high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education and vocational training and the risk of social unrest due to underutilized potential.
More than 800,000 Pakistanis left the country of 220 million to take up jobs in 2022, according to regulatory and monitoring body the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, up from a pre-pandemic total of 625,876 in 2019, and 382,439 the year before that.
Pakistan says keen to buy more oil from Russia, build new steel mill
- Pakistan’s finance minister meets Russian Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk on sidelines of BFA conference in China
- Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened ties in recent years through increased trade
KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday expressed Islamabad’s interest in importing more crude oil from Russia to fulfill its energy requirements and seeking Moscow’s collaboration to build a new steel mill in Pakistan, the finance ministry said.
Aurangzeb met Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Conference 2025, currently underway in China, to discuss bilateral ties, trade and investment between the two countries.
“The bilateral talks focused on strengthening energy cooperation, with Pakistan expressing interest in expanding the procurement of crude oil and investments in oil and gas exploration,” the finance ministry said.
Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened ties in recent years through increased dialogue and trade. In 2023, Islamabad began purchasing discounted Russian crude oil banned from European markets due to Russia’s war in Ukraine and also received its first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas from Moscow.
In December last year, Russia and Pakistan held intergovernmental meetings in Moscow and discussed cooperation on oil and gas offshore exploration and refining, according to a Reuters news agency report.
Cash-strapped Pakistan has long planned to import crude oil from Moscow at discounted rates. Its first shipment of Russian crude oil in June 2023 consisted of 45,000 tons of oil. Russia welcomed Pakistan’s decision to buy oil from it as it increased the search for new buyers in the wake of European sanctions.
Islamabad is trying to secure discounted oil from Russia in hopes it will cut down its sizable import bill, which comprises expensive energy imports.
Pakistan is also trying to strengthen its debt-ridden economy with the help of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) financial bailout packages. The lender wants Islamabad to increase its depleting foreign exchange reserves to a level that could finance three months of imports.
Pakistan currently holds $10.6 billion in foreign exchange reserves that cover about two months of imports.
Separately, the finance minister also discussed collaborating with Russia on building a new steel mill in Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s keen interest in establishing a new steel mill with Russian collaboration was also highlighted,” the finance ministry said. “The minister stressed the importance of feasibility studies and cost assessments to move the project forward.”
A team of technical experts from Russia arrived in Pakistan in January to assess Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), one of several firms Islamabad wants to sell to revive loss-making entities, as it strives to deliver reforms under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.
Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev this year announced cooperation with Pakistan in the energy and industrial sectors, including the modernization of a state-owned steel mill.
Aurangzeb reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its economic and trade relations with Russia, saying he was excited about expanding bilateral cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, the ministry said.
Punjab says received 38 percent less rainfall in last four months, warns of drought
- Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, plays leading role in country’s agricultural production
- Pakistan’s Met Department this week warned of possible drought in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s eastern and most populated Punjab province on Thursday warned that it may face a drought in the near future as it has received 38 percent less rainfall in the last four months compared to the usual amount, a statement from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that the existing drought situation in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces may “exacerbate and intensify” in the coming months due to below-normal rainfall, rising temperatures and acute shortage of stored water in the country’s dams.
The situation is particularly alarming for Punjab, which plays a leading role in Pakistan’s agricultural production. The province contributes about 68 percent to the annual food grain production in Pakistan and has 51 million acres of cultivated land, as per official figures.
“In the last four months, Punjab has received 38 percent less rainfall which is threatening a possible drought,” the PDMA said in a statement.
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of DG PDMA Punjab Irfan Ali Kathia to deal with the possible drought in Cholistan in southern Punjab.
“Additional funds will be provided to the relevant districts to deal with the possible drought,” the PDMA said.
Participants of the meeting were informed in the briefing that due to a lack of rain last winter, the country’s reservoirs are facing a water shortage.
“Water supply is being ensured in all areas. Water is being provided to remote areas through pipelines and water bowsers,” it said.
The PDMA urged all relevant departments to be on alert, with Kathia instructing all departments to make provision of basic medicines to deal with possible drought.
“Possible steps are being taken to deal with heat wave and possible drought,” the statement said.
Pakistan has the fourth-highest rate of water consumption in the world. The country’s agriculture sector uses the most amount of freshwater than any other sector. Rainfall has steadily declined over the past few decades and experts have been warning for years the country will approach “absolute scarcity” of water by 2025.
The results of the latest census in 2023 counted 241.49 million people across Pakistan with a growth rate of 2.55 percent. Linked to that, per capita water availability has been on a downward trend for decades.
