RIYADH: Saudi authorities on Tuesday foiled attempts to smuggle 308.6 kilograms of hashish and 23.7 tons of khat into the Kingdom.
Lt. Col. Misfer bin Ghannam Al-Quraini, spokesman for the Border Guards, said that coastal patrols in Ras Tanura in the Eastern Province thwarted a bid to sneak 220.6 kilograms of hashish into the country, and in another operation stopped 88 kilograms of hashish and 23.7 tons of khat entering the Kingdom.
Security officials also seized 14,224 pills subject to the regulation of medical circulation in Jazan region.
Twelve people were arrested, five of them Ethiopians, four Saudis, and three Yemenis, Al-Quraini revealed, adding that legal procedures had been completed, and the seized goods had been handed over to the relevant authority.
Saudi authorities thwart bids to smuggle hashish, khat into Kingdom
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Saudi authorities thwart bids to smuggle hashish, khat into Kingdom
- Twelve people were arrested, including 5 Ethiopians, 4 Saudis, and 3 Yemenis
Pakistan confers second-highest civilian award on Saudi commerce minister for strengthening ties
- Ambassador Ahmad Farooq confers Hilal-e-Pakistan on Majid Al-Kassabi in Riyadh
- Award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan
RIYADH: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmad Farooq has conferred the country’s second-highest civilian award on Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi for his role in strengthening ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, Pakistan’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia said.
Farooq presented the Hilal-e-Pakistan to Al-Kassabi during a meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The parties also discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade relations.
“On behalf of the president of Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq conferred the Hilal-e-Pakistan on Majid Al-Kassabi, minister of commerce of Saudi Arabia, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations,” the embassy wrote on X.
The award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan and serves as an impetus to further strengthen joint cooperation for the benefit of both countries and their peoples, the SPA reported.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial ties that date back decades and include cooperation in several sectors such as defense, trade, economy, agriculture, livestock and minerals.
Saudi Arabia is the largest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan, with over 2 million Pakistani expats residing in the Kingdom. Riyadh has also helped Pakistan during several economic crises over the years, providing oil on deferred payments and loans in critical times.
The two countries signed a landmark strategic partnership agreement in September 2025, according to which an act of aggression against one country will be seen as an attack on both.
