ISLAMABAD: Media reports that prison authorities in Saudi Arabia are not helping to address issues affecting Pakistani inmates are not true, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said officials in the Kingdom have always extended full cooperation in matters involving detained Pakistani citizens and prisoners, and that the countries enjoy close and cordial relations.
“The rights of all prisoners are secured and the government of Saudi Arabia ensures the facilitation of inmates as per international law regarding living facilities, quality food, consular assistance and presence in court on dates of hearings,” said Faisal.
He added that the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah work with Saudi authorities to provide consular access to detainees, check on their welfare and offer all possible assistance.
In addition, said Faisal, Saudi authorities share information on detainees and help Pakistani mission staff arrange “visits to deportation centers to issue emergency travel documents to those who do not possess passports for traveling to Pakistan.”
He added that clemency requests from the relatives of prisoners are forwarded to the Royal Court, and assistance is given to arrange the departure of those awaiting deportation.
In addition, diplomatic staff visit “courts and meet with authorities to expedite cases and arrange the repatriation of prisoners who have completed their sentences.”
Ministry denies that Saudi Arabia fails to help Pakistani prisoners
Ministry denies that Saudi Arabia fails to help Pakistani prisoners
Pakistan to auction 600 MHz spectrum next month to boost Internet speeds
- Pakistan has more than 130 million broadband connections, but access remains uneven despite increasing IT exports
- Pakistani Internet users currently operate on about 274 MHz of spectrum, compared to around 600 MHz in Bangladesh
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to auction a 600-megahertz (MHz) spectrum next month to ensure high speed and reliable Internet services across the country, state media reported on Monday, citing Information Technology (IT) Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The development comes at a time of mounting pressure on Pakistan’s telecom networks, with users and businesses complaining of slow Internet speeds and frequent disruptions as a limited spectrum struggles to serve the South Asian country.
Pakistan has more than 130 million broadband connections but access remains uneven, though its IT exports reached a record $3.8 billion in FY 2024–25, up from $3.2 billion the previous year, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Pakistan Software Export Board.
Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the IT minister said the federal cabinet has ratified the decision of spectrum auction, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“This will not only improve 4G speed but also help roll out 5G services,” Khawaja was quoted as saying.
Khawaja last month said the quality of Internet service in Pakistan is not at par with international best practices or even regional standards, and one of the fundamental reasons for this was the non-availability of the spectrum.
Pakistani Internet users currently operate on about 274 MHz of spectrum, compared with around 600 MHz in Bangladesh, that leads to congestion, she told a news conference on Dec. 23, likening the situation to “trying to run eight lanes of traffic through two lanes.”
Speaking at Monday’s event, Khawaja reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in capacity-building of the youth.
“Youth are the country’s greatest asset,” she said, highlighting that over half a million young Pakistanis had been trained in various fields over the past 18 months.
