ISLAMABAD: Pakistani energy minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar on Tuesday met the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki, and said it was the “perfect” time to invest in the oil refining business in the South Asian nation.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Power and Petroleum, Tabish Gauhar, and the secretary of the Power Division, were also present at the meeting.
“Matters relating to ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the energy sector and upcoming visit of thePrime Minister to Saudi Arabia were discussed during the meeting,” the Pakistani energy ministry said in a statement. “Azhar informed the Saudi Ambassador that time is perfect to invest in the Oil Refining business in Pakistan since the demand for oil is increasing. He said that the government is brining a policy to facilitate potential investors in this regard.”
Gauhar briefed the Saudi ambassador on key features of a new proposed oil refining policy that would provide tax, custom duty and tariff-related concessions for investors for a set period.
“Potential investors like Saudi ARMCO can take benefit of the concessions,” Gauhar said.
‘Perfect’ time to invest in oil business in Pakistan, energy minister tells Saudi envoy
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‘Perfect’ time to invest in oil business in Pakistan, energy minister tells Saudi envoy
- Saudi ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki called on energy minister Hammad Azhar on Tuesday
- Energy sector cooperation and upcoming visit of Pakistani PM to Saudi Arabia discussed
Pakistan urges pilgrims to complete Saudi biometrics as Hajj preparations gain pace
- Government warns pilgrims biometric verification is required for Hajj visas
- Step follows tighter oversight after last year’s Hajj travel disruptions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Friday urged aspiring pilgrims to complete mandatory Saudi biometric verification for Hajj visas, as preparations for the 2026 pilgrimage gather pace following stricter oversight of the Hajj process.
The announcement comes only a day after Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said regulations for private Hajj operators had been tightened, reducing their quota following widespread complaints last year, when tens of thousands of pilgrims were unable to travel under the private Hajj scheme.
“Saudi biometric verification is mandatory for the issuance of Hajj visas,” the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement, urging pilgrims to complete the process promptly to avoid delays.
“Hajj pilgrims should complete their biometric verification at home using the ‘Saudi Visa Bio’ app as soon as possible,” it added.
The statement said the pilgrims who were unable to complete biometric verification through the mobile application should visit designated Saudi Tasheer centers before Feb. 8, adding that details of the centers were available on Pakistan’s official Hajj mobile application.
Pakistan has been steadily implementing digital and procedural requirements for pilgrims ahead of Hajj 2026, including mandatory training sessions, biometric checks and greater use of mobile applications, as part of efforts to reduce mismanagement.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, with the majority of seats reserved under the government scheme and the remainder allocated to private tour operators.
