ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday congratulated Haider Ali for winning bronze at the Men’s Discus Throw event at Paris Paralympics 2024, describing him as an “inspiration for the entire nation.”
Ali won the bronze medal with a 52.54-meter throw, clinching his fourth Paralympic medal. Uzbekistan’s Tolibboy Yuldashev won gold with a massive 57.28m throw, setting a personal best on his sixth attempt.
Ali led the field in the first attempt with a solid 52.28-meter throw, but was overtaken by Canada’s Jesse Zesseu, who won silver, with a 52.81m throw in the third round.
In his post on X, Pakistan PM Sharif said his country was celebrating Ali’s performance at the Paris Paralympics.
“Congratulations Haider Ali @HaiderAthlete on winning the Bronze medal at the Paris #Paralympics 2024,” the prime minister said. “Your courage and determination are a source of inspiration for the entire nation. Wishing you the very best!“

The development comes weeks after Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem made history at the Paris Olympics by setting a new record for the longest javelin throw and winning a gold medal for his country.
His record-breaking 92.97m javelin throw in Paris earned Pakistan its first Olympic medal since the 1992 Barcelona Games and first gold medal since the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

ISLAMABAD: Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has invited Oman to enhance investments in Pakistan, state media reported on Friday, as the South Asian country struggles to meet external financing needs as part of a $7 billion bailout loan that is pending approval by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board.
Aurangzeb has said in recent weeks Pakistan will focus on meeting its external financing needs by speaking with foreign governments and lenders to draw foreign investment as well as seeking loan rollovers. The government is also seeking to focus on more sustainable forms of external financing such as direct investment and climate financing.
Pakistan and the IMF reached an agreement for the 37-month loan program in July. The IMF has said the program is subject to approval from its executive board and obtaining “timely confirmation of necessary financing assurances from Pakistan’s development and bilateral partners.”
On Thursday, Aurangzeb held a virtual meeting with the chairman of the Pak Oman Investment Company Limited, Juland Jaifer Salim Al-Said, “to discuss ways for expanding business collaborations and enhancing investment and trade flows between the two brotherly countries.”
The minister provided an in-depth overview of Pakistan’s current economic situation, emphasizing progress made in stabilizing the economy and fostering a conducive environment for business and investment.
“Aurangzeb said the government is determined to push ahead with its reform agenda to facilitate the private sector, promote businesses and provide a secure and friendly investment climate,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Finance Minister highlighted the significant strides achieved in recent months to stabilize the economy and put it on a sustainable path of growth. He also mentioned the improvements registered in several macro and micro economic indicators of the economy as well as a host of structural reforms undertaken in various sectors of the economy, including energy, taxation, privatization, and downsizing of government to let the private sector lead the growth with the government playing the role of a facilitator, in the process.”
Radio Pakistan said the Pak Oman Investment Company chairman said Oman viewed “Pakistan as a brotherly country and a potential place for business and investment.”
“He expressed hope that due to opening up of more investment opportunities in Pakistan in the wake of ongoing economic reforms, there would be more business collaborations,” Radio Pakistan said. 
The first Pakistani Business Expo will be held in Muscat on October 13-14. 
Pakistan is in talks with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China to meet gross financing needs under the IMF program, Aurangzeb said in July following a trip to China to seek energy sector debt reprofiling.
Rollovers or disbursements on loans from Pakistan’s long-time allies, in addition to financing from the IMF, have helped Pakistan meet its external financing needs in the past.
Tough conditionalities placed by the IMF, such as raising tax on agricultural incomes and lifting electricity prices, have unleashed street protests and prompted concerns about poor and middle class Pakistanis grappling with rising inflation and the prospect of higher taxes.