ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of different fields.
The two sides signed and exchanged documents of protocol at the end of the two-day long 11th Saudi-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday.
In the closing session, Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Pervaiz Malik invited Saudi Arabia to invest in renewable energy projects, and in the agriculture, oil exploration and livestock sectors.
“The launching of Vision 2030 in the Kingdom will surely usher in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the construction and services sectors … I would like my Saudi brothers to increase the quota of jobs for Pakistani workers in those sectors,” said Malik.
He also suggested the Saudi government could establish a “Saudi-specific training sector” in Pakistan to teach the particular skills needed for the Saudi job market.
The head of Saudi Arabia’s delegation, Majid Al-Qassabi, minister for commerce and investment, said the Kingdom was keen to enhance strategic relations with “our brotherly country Pakistan.”
The Saudi minister admitted that the current volume of trade between the two countries is only “moderate.”
“We need to enhance communication, we need to identify opportunities,” he said. “We need to promote investment opportunities, from both ends. We need to clear all the obstructions, all the challenges, that (inhibit) the ease of doing business.”
The 34-member Saudi delegation included participants from 20 different government entities, the chamber of commerce, and the private sector.
“We are really keen to identify opportunities, we really need to work to establish a long strategic relationship,” Al-Qassabi said.
The minister also announced that Riyadh will host the Saudi-Pakistan Business Forum in the second half of this year. “Hopefully that will be the launching pad for new business and investment relations between the two countries,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to boost ties in different fields
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to boost ties in different fields
Sustainability in focus as Madinah marks World Soil Day
MADINAH: Madinah joined the world in celebrating World Soil Day on Dec. 5, highlighting the importance of soil conservation for food security and ecosystems, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The day holds added significance in Madinah due to its rich agricultural history, diverse soil types — from clay to sand and volcanic Harrat — and its longstanding connection to date production.
The region’s soil faces challenges, notably salinization from imbalanced irrigation and climate change, the SPA added.
Authorities are addressing this through soil protection programs, improved irrigation techniques and sustainable agricultural practices.
Soil plays a vital role in water purification, acting as a natural filter. As winter begins, it is an opportune time to prepare soil for spring, expanding crop cultivation and harvest, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Madinah is implementing initiatives to enhance resource efficiency, raise farmer awarenes and combat desertification. Farmers contribute by using organic fertilization and recycling agricultural waste.
World Soil Day highlights the need for collaboration between government agencies, farmers and stakeholders to ensure soil sustainability, preserve agricultural heritage and support Vision 2030’s sustainable development goals.
Approved by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2013, World Soil Day aims to raise awareness of soil’s critical role in healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
