ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki, met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday to discuss the “historic relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them,” officials from the Saudi Embassy said in a Twitter post.
In a separate meeting with Al-Malki, Asad Umar, the Federal Minister for Finance, “extended his warm wishes for the people of Saudi Arabia,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
Congratulating Umar on assuming new responsibilities, Al-Malki conveyed “the best wishes and full support from King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud”, the statement said.
Al-Malki added that the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are rooted in history and will further strengthen in the future.
Umar thanked the ambassador and promised full support from the Ministry of Finance “for further strengthening of brotherly relations between the two countries,” the statement read.
Saudi envoy meets PM, conveys Kingdom’s full support to Pakistan
Saudi envoy meets PM, conveys Kingdom’s full support to Pakistan
- Ambassador Nawaf Al-Malki and Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed ways to strengthen relations
- The Ambassador in his meeting with Finance Minister conveyed full support from King Salman to Pakistan
Bangladesh approves new rice imports from Pakistan amid price pressures
- The deal follows Bangladesh’s resumption of direct rice trade with Pakistan earlier this year for the first time since independence in 1971
- Diplomatic ties between the two nations have improved since the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina after mass protests last year
DHAKA: Bangladesh has approved the import of 50,000 metric tons of white rice from Pakistan under a government-to-government deal as part of efforts to stabilize domestic prices, officials said on Tuesday.
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase cleared the deal at $395 per ton, reinforcing Dhaka’s renewed trade engagement with Islamabad.
Rice prices in Bangladesh have jumped by between 15 percent and 20 percent over the past year, with medium-quality rice selling at about 80 taka ($0.66) per kilogram. Despite increased imports and the removal of duties to ease supply constraints, prices for the staple grain remain stubbornly high.
The deal follows Bangladesh’s resumption of direct rice trade with Pakistan earlier this year for the first time since independence in 1971. In February, it imported 50,000 tons of rice from Pakistan at $499 per ton under a similar agreement.
Diplomatic ties between the two South Asian nations have improved since an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took office after mass protests forced then prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to neighboring India last year.
Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh gained independence after a nine-month war in 1971, and relations with Pakistan have remained fraught in the decades since the conflict.
Separately, the government approved another 50,000 tons of parboiled rice through an international tender, part of a series of recent purchases aimed at cooling local prices. India’s Pattabhi Agro Foods secured the contract with the lowest bid of $355.77 per ton.
