ISLAMABAD: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, newly elected speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, on Friday urged for closer ties with Saudi Arabia, describing the kingdom as a “selfless friend” that had stood by Pakistan in times of need.
The National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistani parliament, last week elected former prime minister Ashraf as its new speaker.
The House has been without a speaker since Asad Qaiser resigned from the post, minutes before a no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan on April 10, which he had lost.
Ashraf’s statement came after his meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki at Parliament House Islamabad on Friday.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy brotherly relations and the same transcends to the legislatures of the both the countries and have supported each other on international and regional forums,” Speaker Ashraf said.
“Pakistan attaches immense importance to its time-tested and all-weather friendship with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Paying gratitude to the Saudi leadership, the speaker called for enhancing cooperation between the two countries in diverse sectors.
Ambassador Al-Malki agreed with the speaker, saying that undoubtedly the hearts of people of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan beat together.
He said that his “government and people hold Pakistani[s] close to their heart[s],” according to the statement issued by Speaker Ashraf’s office.
“Saudi Arabia had and would always stand by Pakistan whenever needed,” the ambassador was quoted as saying. He also agreed on enhancing parliamentary interaction between legislative bodies of both countries.
Pakistan has deep-rooted ties with Saudi Arabia and nearly 2.5 million Pakistani expats live in the kingdom.
Last week Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Shehbaz Sharif over the phone and congratulated him on becoming the new prime minister of Pakistan and extended an invitation to Sharif to visit the kingdom at an early date.
Sharif, 70, the younger brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, was elected as prime minister on April 11, following a week-long constitutional crisis after parliament ousted Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote.
Sharif is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia next week.
New parliament speaker calls for closer ties with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s ‘selfless friend’
https://arab.news/jjspe
New parliament speaker calls for closer ties with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s ‘selfless friend’
- Statement came after Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki
- Pakistan attaches immense importance to its time-tested and all-weather friendship, the speaker says
Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on alert amid forecast of heavy rain, snowfall
- Pakistan’s Met Office says westerly wave expected to trigger heavy rain, snowfall in northern areas from Jan. 25-27
- Disaster management authority urges district administrations to ensure that precautionary measures are in place
PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province issued a public advisory on Sunday, calling on district administrations and the tourism department to ensure precautionary arrangements are being undertaken as the province braces for heavy rains and snowfall this week.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department this week warned that a westerly wave is likely to approach the country’s western parts from Jan. 25 and likely to grip Pakistan’s northern areas on Jan. 26. It warned that this system would trigger heavy rain and snowfall in these parts till Tuesday.
Administrations in Pakistan’s northwestern districts of Khyber and Swat carried out rescue operations on Thursday night after several vehicles were stranded in various parts of these areas. Footage on social media showed officials helping people as heavy snow blanketed vehicles on Tirah Road, Malam Jabba Road and in Nathia Gali.
“The advisory directs district administrations to ensure continuous monitoring of roads, highways, and tourist destinations, keep emergency response teams on alert, and maintain coordination between control rooms and the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (PEOC),” the PDMA said in a press release.
“In addition, hotels and guest houses have been instructed to inform tourists about potential risks and to issue timely alerts related to snowfall and landslides.”
It warned that rain and snowfall may lead to road blockages, slippery conditions, landslides, avalanches, and flash floods in various areas from Jan. 25-27, affecting the general public and tourists.
The PDMA advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, urging tourists not to visit upper and remote areas during the current period of snowfall and heavy rain.
The disaster management authority reassured citizens that it was monitoring the situation closely, urging them to contact the PDMA on its helpline at 1700 in case of any emergency.
Thousands of tourists from all over Pakistan flock to scenic spots in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, KP and Punjab during snowfall
Citizens often disregard warnings by disaster management authorities of deteriorating weather conditions and roadblocks, leading to emergency situations.
In January 2022, at least 21 people were killed when they were left trapped in their cars during a snowstorm in the Pakistani hill station of Murree.
