ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has congratulated President Mamnoon Hussain on the anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence Day.
In a message, King Salman wished the Pakistan president eternal good health and happiness and his nation steady progress and prosperity.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has also congratulated the President on the country’s 71st Independence Day, the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan said.
Pakistan got its independence from British rule on Aug. 14, 1947.
Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day at a time when the country is all set to transfer power to the newly elected government.
In last month’s general elections, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party emerged as the major political party and is in the process of forming the new government.
PTI chairman and Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan, said in a message on Twitter, “I want all Pakistanis to celebrate 14th August, our Independence Day, with full fervor — especially as we are now moving toward Naya Pakistan (New Pakistan) and reclaiming Jinnah’s vision InshaAllah.”
The day will dawn with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute at the provincial headquarters. The national flag will be hoisted at all important public and private buildings.
The main feature of the celebrations will be a national flag-hoisting ceremony at Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad. President Hussain will be the chief guest on the occasion, reported Radio Pakistan.
At 9.59 a.m., sirens will be sounded and the moving traffic will come to a halt as a mark of national solidarity. Similar flag-hoisting ceremonies will also be held at provincial, divisional and district headquarters level throughout the country.
Saudi king, crown prince send felicitation messages to Pakistan president on Independence Day
Saudi king, crown prince send felicitation messages to Pakistan president on Independence Day
- King Salman wished the Pakistan president good health and happiness and his nation steady progress and prosperity
- Pakistan marks its 71st Independence Day on Aug. 14
Pakistan terms climate change, demographic pressures as ‘pressing existential risks’
- Pakistan has suffered frequent climate change-induced disasters, including floods this year that killed over 1,000
- Pakistan finmin highlights stabilization measures at Doha Forum, discusses economic cooperation with Qatar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday described climate change and demographic pressures as “pressing existential risks” facing the country, calling for urgent climate financing.
The finance minister was speaking as a member of a high-level panel at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum, which is being held from Dec. 6–7 in the Qatari capital. Aurangzeb was invited as a speaker on the discussion titled: ‘Global Trade Tensions: Economic Impact and Policy Responses in MENA.’
“He reaffirmed that while Pakistan remained vigilant in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, the more pressing existential risks were climate change and demographic pressures,” the Finance Division said.
Pakistan has suffered repeated climate disasters in recent years, most notably the 2022 super-floods that submerged one-third of the country, displaced millions and caused an estimated $30 billion in losses.
This year’s floods killed over 1,000 people and caused at least $2.9 billion in damages to agriculture and infrastructure. Scientists say Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
Aurangzeb has previously said climate change and Pakistan’s fast-rising population are the only two factors that can hinder the South Asian country’s efforts to become a $3 trillion economy in the future.
The finance minister noted that this year’s floods in Pakistan had shaved at least 0.5 percent off GDP growth, calling for urgent climate financing and investment in resilient infrastructure.
When asked about Pakistan’s fiscal resilience and capability to absorb external shocks, Aurangzeb said Islamabad had rebuilt fiscal buffers. He pointed out that both the primary fiscal balance and current account had returned to surplus, supported significantly by strong remittance inflows of $18–20 billion annually from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions.
Separately, Aurangzeb met his Qatari counterpart Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari to discuss bilateral cooperation.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties, particularly by maximizing opportunities created through the newly concluded GCC–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, expanding trade flows, and deepening energy cooperation, including long-term LNG collaboration,” the finance ministry said.
The two also discussed collaboration on digital infrastructure, skills development and regulatory reform. They agreed to establish structured mechanisms to continue joint work in trade diversification, technology, climate resilience, and investment facilitation, the finance ministry said.
