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Pakistan reduces visa fee for Saudi nationals

Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki visited the headquarters of Pakistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in Karachi, on Dec.1, 2018. (Photo courtesy: Saudi Embassy in Islamabad)
Updated 06 December 2018
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Pakistan reduces visa fee for Saudi nationals

  • Both the countries have agreed to enhance trade and cultural ties
  • Riyadh has also expressed an interest in the mining and development of mineral resources in Islamabad
Updated 06 December 2018
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government announced on Thursday that it has reduced the visa fee for Saudi nationals who wish to travel to the country.
“The government of Pakistan has reduced the visit, tourist, study visa (60 US $) and business, work visa (90 US $) [fees] for Saudi nationals,” the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh said in a tweet.

However, no further details were shared about the initiative.
In recent months, the two countries have agreed to enhance trade and cultural ties.
In September this year, Saudi Minister Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad visited Pakistan and discussed how the two allies could further broaden and deepen their relationship in the field of media and culture.
On December 1, Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki also visited the headquarters of Pakistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karachi and discussed the investment opportunities between the two countries.

During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s second visit to Saudi Arabia on October 22, the Kingdom had also expressed an interest in the mining and development of mineral resources in Pakistan and in the country’s largest coastal refinery.
The multi-billion dollar project is being set up at the Khalifa Point, near the hub district in Balochistan, Sher Afghan Khan, spokesman for the Ministry of Energy (petroleum division) and a board member of Pakistan-Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) confirmed to Arab News.
With an aim to attract even more tourists to the country, the Islamabad Embassy in Riyadh posted on its website: “Pakistan is a land blessed with an enormously-rich historical heritage, diverse culture, high adventure, and unmatched natural beauty.”
“We offer a unique and contrasted destination to behold the caravan of mankind across ages and precious beauties of nature, to the tourists of the world,” the embassy further added.
Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy a multifaceted and deep-rooted cooperation.
In October this year, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman accepted PM Khan’s proposal to reduce the visa fee for Pakistani workers which Pakistan considers as a significant step toward enhancing its workforce in Saudi Arabia, as well as facilitating travel of people between both the countries.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi pak saudi ties visa

Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate

Updated 28 February 2026
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Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate

  • Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
  • Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
Updated 28 February 2026
NAIMAT KHAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.

A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.

“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).

“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.

The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”

He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.

The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.

The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.

Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.

The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.

The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
 

Topics: Pakistan Afghanistan clashes Pakistan Afghanistan border tensions Pakistan Afghanistan border

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