Islamabad: Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Miqran bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the deputy governor of Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il province, met Pakistani ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz on Sunday and appreciated the “vital role” of the Pakistani diaspora in the development of the kingdom.
“He [Al Saud] highlighted the vital role played by the Pakistani diaspora in the development and uplift of the kingdom and said that the kingdom looked forward to benefiting from the expertise of Pakistani people in the success of Vision 2030,” the Pakistani embassy in Saudi Arabia said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia announced its Vision 2030 reform plan in 2016, a package of economic and social policies designed to free the kingdom from dependence on oil exports.
Ha’il province is considered the breadbasket of Saudi Arabia and is known for its production of wheat, barley, potatoes, dates and tangerine.
“There are about 120,000 Pakistanis working in this province, who are mostly employed in agricultural farms and construction businesses,” the embassy statement said. “Hundreds of Pakistani doctors and other professionals are also employed in hospitals, hotels and other departments of the region.”
Over 2.6 million Pakistanis currently live in Saudi Arabia, the biggest job market for Pakistani nationals and a major source of foreign remittances.
Saudi deputy governor highlights ‘vital role’ of Pakistani diaspora in kingdom’s development
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Saudi deputy governor highlights ‘vital role’ of Pakistani diaspora in kingdom’s development
- Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Miqran bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met Pakistani ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz on Sunday
- 120,000 Pakistanis employed in Ha’il province known for wheat, barley, potatoes, dates and tangerine produce
Pakistan deputy PM speaks with Iranian FM as Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles and drones
- Ishaq Dar expresses concern over evolving regional situation as both officials agree to remain in contact
- Pakistan earlier reminded Tehran of its mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia during diplomatic outreach
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, including recent missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia that were intercepted by the Kingdom’s air defenses.
The call comes as Islamabad remains in contact with both Tehran and Gulf states to prevent the widening Iran conflict from spilling further across the region, particularly after attempted strikes on Saudi territory, a sensitive development for Pakistan, which signed a mutual defense pact with the Kingdom last year.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar raised concerns about the evolving regional situation during the conversation.
“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke this evening with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The DPM/FM expressed concern over the evolving regional situation. The two agreed to remain in touch on the developments,” it added.
The ministry did not share details of the conversation, though it came amid fast-moving developments in the region, with Saudi Arabia saying its air defenses intercepted multiple missiles and drones early on Friday.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan was in contact with Iran to discourage attacks on Gulf countries and prevent misunderstandings.
“Such attacks should not be carried out from Iran’s side,” he told Geo TV.
Prior to that, the deputy prime minister told Pakistan’s Senate that Islamabad had engaged both Iran and Saudi Arabia at the outset of Iran’s retaliation in the region, reminding Tehran of its defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and conveying assurances from Riyadh that Saudi territory would not be used against Iran.
Pakistan says its administration is striving to end the conflict, though the United States-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered the war and led to its spillover, have only intensified.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday some countries had begun mediation efforts but insisted Tehran would defend its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on his Truth Social platform as the confrontation shows little sign of easing.
