ISLAMABAD: An alliance of opposition parties has called on its supporters to delay a “long march” to the capital due to the presence of foreign ministers of Islamic countries in Islamabad next week for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
On Monday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), who also heads the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an opposition alliance against Prime Minister Imran Khan, had asked supporters to embark on a long march to the capital on March 23.
On Tuesday, however, Rehman asked opposition supporters to enter the capital on the evening of Friday, March 25, instead of March 24.
“We have great respect for Muslim countries and do not want to create any problems for the foreign dignitaries,” the politician told reporters, referring to Islamabad hosting the 48th Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting on March 22-23 for which at least 46 OIC foreign ministers have confirmed participation.
The opposition long march call came days after PM Khan announced a rally in Islamabad on March 27 as a show of force by his government ahead of a parliamentary vote on a no-confidence motion filed against him by the opposition in parliament last Tuesday. The date for the vote has not yet been set. First the speaker of the national assembly must convene a session where the motion can be tabled.
The opposition requires at least 172 votes in the 342-member National Assembly to topple Khan’s government. The current party position in the lower house of parliament shows the opposition collectively has 162 members while the government enjoys the support of 179 lawmakers, including its coalition partners.
Opposition parties say they have the required numbers to win the no trust vote as they struggle to convince the government’s allied parties to leave the coalition.
Opposition delays long march to Islamabad due to OIC foreign ministers’ meeting
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Opposition delays long march to Islamabad due to OIC foreign ministers’ meeting
- Opposition leaders had earlier called supporters to march to the capital starting March 23
- Islamabad is hosting the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22-23
Saudi company eyes multi-sector projects in Pakistan worth $200 million each — ministry
- Delegation from Saudi firm Kyan explores investment in energy, mining, IT and agriculture
- Talks come amid Pakistan’s push to attract Gulf capital and boost foreign investment inflows
ISLAMABAD: A Saudi company is exploring potential multi-sector investment projects in Pakistan with an estimated minimum value of $200 million per scheme, Pakistan’s ministry of information said on Wednesday.
The development comes as Pakistan seeks to attract increased foreign direct investment from Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, as part of efforts to stabilize its economy, improve investor confidence and expand industrial capacity. Saudi Arabia has in recent years pledged billions of dollars in potential investments across Pakistan’s mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, though several projects remain at exploratory or negotiation stages.
According to the ministry of Information, a delegation from Saudi firm Kyan visited Islamabad and expressed interest in investing in sectors including energy, mining, information technology, agriculture and livestock. The delegation participated in the “Indus AI Week” organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and held meetings with Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh.
“The delegation shared proposals for various potential projects with an estimated minimum investment of USD 200 million for each project and also conveyed their interest in bringing additional Saudi investors to Pakistan,” the information ministry said.
Welcoming the delegation, Sheikh highlighted Pakistan’s market size and geographic position.
“With a population of over 250 million, Pakistan represents a large and dynamic market,” the minister said, adding that the country’s location provides access to landlocked Central Asian states, making it an attractive hub for regional trade and investment.
The ministry statement said the Board of Investment offered facilitation through its Business Facilitation Center, which provides a single-window mechanism for investor approvals and coordination. Sheikh also assured the delegation of support in arranging meetings with the business community and visits to Special Economic Zones, where incentives include income tax and import duty exemptions.
The minister referred to recent engagements between Pakistani and Saudi officials and reiterated that both countries could work to unlock new avenues of bilateral investment and economic cooperation, according to the statement.
Saudi Arabia is among Pakistan’s largest sources of worker remittances and has emerged as a key partner in Islamabad’s efforts to secure external financing and long-term investment commitments in recent years.
