ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Saudi National Bank Chairman Saeed bin Mohammed Al-Ghamdi on Tuesday to discuss financial cooperation and strengthening banking sector partnerships between the two countries, Pakistan’s finance ministry said. 

The meeting between the two officials took place during the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, which will be held till Jan. 24 under the theme: ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close regional partners and economic allies, with both countries signing 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion in October 2024. 

“The two leaders discussed potential financial cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, particularly focusing on strengthening partnerships in the banking sector,” the finance ministry said in a statement. 

Aurangzeb briefed Ghamdi about Pakistan’s economic progress and the improvements made by the South Asian nation in its international financial rankings.

“Both sides expressed their commitment to further deepen economic ties for mutual benefit,” the ministry said. 

Meanwhile, the Saudi Export-Import Bank and Pakistan’s Bank Alfalah also signed a $15 million financing agreement, strengthening access to Pakistani markets and boosting trade and economic ties. 

Separately, Aurangzeb also met Egyptian Minister of Planning, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat at the sidelines of the summit. The two ministers discussed ongoing programs and projects between Pakistan and Egypt, the finance ministry said. 

“The two ministers agreed to continue discussions on economy and finance and learn from each other’s experiences,” the statement said. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Tuesday condoled over the loss of lives caused by a deadly fire at a ski resort in Turkiye that killed at least 66 people and wounded over 50 others. 

The blaze erupted overnight in the restaurant of the hotel in the famous Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province on Monday. 

Television footage showed the roof and upper floors of the building engulfed in flames as witnesses and reports indicated that the hotel’s fire detection system had failed to activate. 

As per reports, 234 guests were staying at the hotel when it caught fire.

“The government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened by the devastating fire at a hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu, Türkiye this morning,” the foreign office said.

“Pakistan extends its heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Türkiye, particularly to the families who have lost their loved ones.”

The foreign office said Pakistan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Turkiye, reaffirming its solidarity with the nation. 

According to the state-owned Anadolu Agency, Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said four people, including the business owner, were detained over the fire incident.

He said six public prosecutors were assigned to the probe, adding that a team of experts were looking into the cause of the fire.

Kartalkaya, which lies about 295 kilometers east of Istanbul, is one of Turkiye’s premier winter tourism destinations that attracts thousands of visitors every winter.