ISLAMABAD: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir will arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad told Arab News.
During the course of his visit, Al-Jubeir is expected to meet Prime Minster Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.
Al-Jubeir’s visit comes at a time when Islamabad is embroiled in a bitter spat with New Delhi following India’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
On Monday, PM Khan discussed the latest developments in the region during a telephone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said in a statement.
“Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has received a telephone call from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan,” the SPA said.
This was the third such contact between the two leaders since New Delhi took the decision on August 5.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always shared close, bilateral ties. However, the relations hit a new high after PM Khan assumed office last year.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Raja Ali Ejaz met with Al-Jubeir in Riyadh where the two discussed bilateral ties and issues of common concern.
Meanwhile, the UAE embassy in Islamabad confirmed on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be visiting Islamabad for a day-long visit to meet political and military leaders on Wednesday.
Saudi Minister of State Al-Jubeir to visit Islamabad today
Saudi Minister of State Al-Jubeir to visit Islamabad today
- Al-Jubeir is expected to meet with Pakistan’s top political and military leadership
- Follows PM Khan and crown prince’s phone call to discuss regional situation
World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues
- Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
- World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.
"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."
Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.
“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.
“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”
In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.
It followed a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.
