ISLAMABAD: A high level Saudi delegation will visit Pakistan very soon to explore investment opportunities in the tourism sector, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told Arab News on Thursday.
“During my current visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, I talked to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud regarding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s request to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to send a delegation to explore tourism potential and investment opportunities in Pakistan. He [Prince Faisal] assured me that Saudi Arabia was going to send the delegation to Pakistan very soon,” Qureshi said.
The foreign minister informed that the prime minister had talked to the Saudi crown prince on phone last month and apprised him about the potential of tourism in Pakistan.
“The prime minister said that Pakistan had a lot of potential in tourism, and new international assessments have placed the South Asian state as the top tourism destination for 2020,” Qureshi said, adding that Khan had also sought help from the Saudi crown prince to secure investment in Pakistan’s tourism sector.
“PM Khan asked the Saudi crown prince to help promote tourism in Pakistan and requested him to send a high level delegation to assess the country’s tourism potential and identify investment opportunities in this economic sector,” he said.
Pakistan’s envoy to the Kingdom, Raja Ali Ejaz, told Arab News last month that Prime Minister Imran Khan had invited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit Pakistan during the winter season to promote tourism.
“A formal letter of invitation has been forwarded to the Royal Court for further processing,” Riaz said. “The invitation has been extended because of the crown prince’s wish during his visit to Pakistan in February 2019 to visit the country’s picturesque northern regions.”
Many international publications, including Forbes and Traveler, have added Pakistan to their list of must-visit places in 2020. The Forbes has included the country’s northern areas to its “10 Best-Under-The-Radar Trips” for this year, calling it the “ultimate” location for adventure seekers.
Saudi delegation to explore tourism investment in Pakistan — FM Qureshi
https://arab.news/nz2u4
Saudi delegation to explore tourism investment in Pakistan — FM Qureshi
- The foreign minister says PM Khan requested the Saudi crown prince to help promote tourism in Pakistan
- Many international publications have added the South Asian country to their list of must-visit places in 2020
Babar Azam ends century drought as Pakistan seal Sri Lanka ODI series
- Pakistan chase down 289 with strong partnerships by Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan
- Sri Lanka’s 288–8, anchored by Janith Liyanage’s 54, wasn’t enough after multiple dropped catches
RAWALPINDI: Babar Azam hit his first international century since August 2023 to lift Pakistan to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second day-night international on Friday.
Azam notched an unbeaten 102 for his 20th one-day international century to help Pakistan overtake Sri Lanka’s 289-run target at Rawalpindi Stadium.
The win gave Pakistan a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series with the final match on Sunday. Pakistan won the first match by six runs — all in Rawalpindi.
Arriving at the crease amidst a huge roar from the crowd after opener Saim Ayub fell for 33 in the 10th over, Azam played his famous cover drives to perfection.
He reached the three-figure mark with a pulled single off pacer Pramod Madushan, raised his bat to the crowd before bowing to the ground.
Azam had gone 33 ODI innings without a hundred and 82 innings in all, including Tests and Twenty20 internationals.
Azam added a 100-run stand for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman who scored an aggressive 78 with a six and eight boundaries to set up a successful chase.
Sri Lanka fumbled in the field, dropping Zaman on 20, 28 and 78 before Janith Liyanage pulled off a stunner off pacer Dushmantha Chameera but it was too late.
Building on the platform, Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 not out, added another 112 for the unbroken third wicket stand with Azam deservedly hitting the winning single.
Azam cracked eight boundaries while Rizwan’s knock had a six and five boundaries.
A delighted Azam said: “I was also waiting for my century, so I am thankful to the Almighty,” said Azam. “It is more delightful that it has come in the team’s win.”
Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka said: “We were outclassed by Pakistan.
“We did not score a big total and then had quite a few dropped catches which did not help us.”
Earlier, spinner Abrar Ahmed finished with 3-41 while pace bowler Haris Rauf claimed 3-66 as Sri Lanka scored 288-8 after they were sent in to bat.
Liyanage top-scored with a fighting 54, hitting a six and two fours.
Liyanage added 61 for the fifth wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 42, and another 73 for the sixth with Kamindu Mendis, who scored 44.
Sri Lanka made a confident start of 51 before Pathum Nissanka was run out for 24 attempting a third run.
Abrar then derailed the innings with three wickets, removing Kamil Mishara for 27, Kusal Mendis for 20 and Asalanka for six in the space of 36 runs.
Rauf dismissed Samarawickrama and Kamindu to compensate for the absence of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the match with a fever.
Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 37 off 26 balls, adding 44 at the end with Pramod Madushan, who was 11 not out.
The second ODI was delayed by a day after several Sri Lankan players considered abandoning the tour over security fears following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Islamabad, just a few miles from the stadium.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket managed to convince the players to stay with enhanced security measures.
