ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi congratulated Saudi Arabia on Friday for holding a successful G20 summit earlier this month while interacting with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on the sidelines of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Niger.
They discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Qureshi said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed historic and brotherly relations. He also praised the kingdom’s principled stance on Kashmir and expressed his gratitude for its unstinting support to Pakistan over the issue.
The Pakistani foreign minister also discussed the current situation in Indian-administered Kashmir and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s role in the Muslim world.
According to an official statement released by Pakistan’s foreign office, Prince Faisal bin Farhan praised Pakistan’s role in regional security.
The two officials also agreed to increase bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, economy and commerce.
It was decided that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would exchange official delegations for greater collaboration in the coming days.
Pakistan praises Saudi Arabia for holding successful G20 summit
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Pakistan praises Saudi Arabia for holding successful G20 summit
- Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi meets his Saudi counterpart on the sidelines of the OIC foreign ministers’ conference
- The two officials agree to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, economy and commerce
Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies
- Delegation will take part in the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from Jan. 13-15
- Petroleum minister will lead Pakistan, participate in a 90-minute country session
ISLAMABAD: Around 13 Pakistani state-owned and private companies will attend the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 13 to 15, an official statement said on Friday, as the country seeks to ramp up global engagement to develop its mineral resources.
The FMF is an international conference and investment platform for the mining sector, hosted by mineral-rich countries to attract global investors, companies and governments.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed Pakistan’s participation in a meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest copper-gold zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan, with an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore, is partly owned by Barrick Gold, which calls it one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold deposits. Its development is expected to boost Pakistan’s struggling economy.
“Upon an invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Minister informed the Ambassador that Pakistan will fully participate in the upcoming Future Minerals Forum (FMF), scheduled to be held in Riyadh later this month,” Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said in an official statement.
The Pakistani minister will lead his country’s delegation at the FMF and take part in a 90-minute country showcase session titled “Unleashing Potential: Accelerating Pakistan’s Mineral Revolution” along with local and foreign investors.
Pakistan will also establish a dedicated pavilion to highlight the vast potential of its rich geological landscape to the global mineral community.
The Saudi envoy welcomed Pakistan’s decision to participate in the forum and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the minerals and energy sectors during the meeting.
According to the statement, he highlighted the potential for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the minerals and energy sectors, expressing confidence that the FMF would provide a platform to expand collaboration.
Pakistan’s mineral sector, despite its rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, contributes only 3.2 percent to the country’s GDP and just 0.1 percent to global mineral exports.
However, many countries, including the United States, have shown interest in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral sector, particularly in copper, gold and other critical resources.
In October, Pakistan dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, according to a Chicago-based US public relations firm’s report.
