ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday congratulated the Saudi leadership and people on the Kingdom’s 88th National Day.
Khan expressed best wishes to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other members of the royal family.
“The progress, development and stability of Saudi Arabia is a heartfelt sentiment of every Pakistani,” Khan said. “The strength of Saudi Arabia is the strength of the Muslim Ummah (nation).”
The Kingdom has always stood by Pakistan in difficult times, and the government and people of Pakistan acknowledge and appreciate that, he added.
On Sept. 18, Khan traveled to Saudi Arabia on his first official visit abroad since becoming prime minister, meeting with the king and crown prince and reviewing bilateral relations.
The visit “helped open a new chapter of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, which would benefit the entire region,” Khan said in his congratulatory message.
Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also congratulated the Saudi king and crown prince on their country’s National Day.
Pakistan PM congratulates Saudi Arabia on National Day
Pakistan PM congratulates Saudi Arabia on National Day
- Khan acknowledged that Saudi Arabia stood by Pakistan’s side through thick and think for which the government and the people of Pakistan are highly indebted
- In his message of felicitation to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other members of the Saudi royal family, Khan said the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are linked through religious and brotherly ties
Pakistani business federation says EU envoy pledges support for training industrial workforce
- Support aims to boost competitiveness as Pakistan expands skilled labor for exports and remittances
- FPCCI says the country’s economic future hinges on preparing its workforce for modern technologies
ISLAMABAD: The European Union’s top diplomat in Pakistan has pledged support for the country’s push to train its industrial workforce, exporters and small businesses through the national technical and vocational education system, Pakistan’s top business federation said in a statement on Tuesday, calling the assistance critical for boosting competitiveness.
The commitment came during the first annual conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), jointly organized by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the TVET Sector Support Program, where the EU envoy addressed business leaders and government officials.
“Pakistani industries, exporters, trade bodies and SMEs will be facilitated and supported in their training, and exporters should draw maximum benefit from the GSP+ program,” said EU Ambassador Raymonds Kroblis, according to the FPCCI statement, referring to the EU trade scheme that grants Pakistan preferential, duty-free access for most exports in return for implementing international conventions.
He added that Pakistan’s economic future depended on preparing its workforce for modern technologies.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said Pakistan could “change its economic trajectory” through large-scale skills development and called for a sustained public–private partnership to modernize vocational training.
He said the federation would train 1,000 officials from chambers and trade bodies to strengthen workforce readiness.
Sheikh said Pakistan’s youth had “immense potential” and required structured opportunities to advance, both for domestic industry and for overseas employment.
Pakistan has been working to expand its pool of skilled workers to tap opportunities in Gulf economies, where higher-skilled migration could help lift remittances, a major stabilizing force for Pakistan’s economy.
Speakers at the conference said aligning Pakistan’s workforce with international standards was key to improving productivity, securing export growth and preparing workers for global labor markets.
