ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Riyadh on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern with Saudi Arabia, the interior ministry said as both countries continue efforts to forge closer economic and investment ties. 

Pakistan has looked toward Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern states in recent months to attract foreign investment and ensure economic stability. 

Islamabad and Riyadh signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in October worth $2.8 billion that Pakistan says will bring much-needed foreign investment into the cash-starved country. 

Naqvi met Saudi Arabia’s Undersecretary of Interior Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Battal after his arrival in Riyadh, the interior ministry said. 

“Matters of mutual interest and discussions on Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations were held,” the interior ministry said. 

Naqvi congratulated the Saudi leadership on successfully winning the bid for hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, expressing his best wishes for the Kingdom. 

“Saudi Arabia is our most trusted Islamic friends. Every Pakistani is proud of this friendship,” Naqvi added. 

He praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 program, saying that it has created “historic progress and prosperity” in the Kingdom. 

Al-Battal noted that the two countries enjoyed very close ties to each other, adding that he was looking forward to further progress in bilateral relations during Naqvi’s ongoing tour of Saudi Arabia. 

Islamabad: One Pakistani was killed while 47 others were rescued after a migrant boat sank off Greece’s coast this week, the foreign office confirmed on Sunday, saying it was unable to confirm the total number of persons who had died or were missing following the incident. 

The tragedy took place on Friday when a migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete, according to Greece’s coast guard. 

Many Pakistanis undertake the dangerous and illegal voyage to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea in hopes of securing a brighter future for themselves and their families. 

“According to initial reports, 47 Pakistanis are among those rescued following yesterday’s incidents of capsized boats in the south of Crete Island of Greece,” the foreign office said. “One Pakistani is confirmed to be among the dead.”

The foreign office said it is unable to confirm the number of deceased or missing Pakistani nationals.

“The Embassy of Pakistan in Athens is in contact with the Hellenic Coast Guard and with the Coast Guard of Chania, which are directly dealing with the search and rescue operation,” it said. 

“The Embassy officials have reached the Crete to meet with the rescued Pakistanis and provide them with any assistance required.”

The foreign ministry said it has activated its Crisis Management Unit to facilitate Pakistanis in Greece, encouraging them to contact the CMU for further details. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief at the incident, vowing stern punishment for culprits involved in trafficking humans. 

“Such persons [human traffickers] should be identified and they should be handed strict punishments so that they do not repeat such heinous crimes again,” Sharif said in a statement shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“Concrete steps should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in future,” he added.

Sharif instructed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to submit an inquiry report on the matter, describing human traffickers as a “cruel mafia” who extort money from the poor by selling them lofty dreams.

“Human trafficking is a heinous crime due to which many lives are lost and many houses are destroyed every year,” he said.

In June 2023, an estimated 350 Pakistanis were on board an overcrowded fishing boat carrying 700 migrants that sank off the coast of Greece.

Only 104 people, including 12 Pakistanis, were rescued and 82 bodies were recovered after the incident.

The episode prompted Pakistani authorities to launch a nationwide crackdown against human smugglers.