ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance launched a program this week to distribute ten tons of premium dates to Pakistan, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Gift Program was launched by the ministry at the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan on Saturday, APP said. The Kingdom’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, attended the launching event in Islamabad.
Al-Maliki said the initiative is part of the Kingdom’s program which was being held in several countries, including Pakistan, during the holy month of Ramadan.
“This program distributes 10 tons of luxury dates, amounting to 30,000 individual gifts,” Malki was quoted as saying by the APP on Saturday.
“These gifts symbolize the bonds of brotherhood and goodwill between the people of Saudi Arabia, its government, and its wise leadership, and the people of Pakistan.”
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset for a month. Muslims in many parts of the world, including Pakistan, traditionally break their fast by eating dates.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia gifted Pakistan 100 tons of dates before Ramadan began. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and brotherly relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top destination for remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Saudi Arabia launches program to distribute premium dates to Pakistan
https://arab.news/6gfuv
Saudi Arabia launches program to distribute premium dates to Pakistan
- As per the program, Saudi Arabia will distribute ten tons of premium dates to Pakistan
- Muslims in Pakistan and other parts of the world traditionally break fasts with dates
Six cops killed as IED explosion targets police vehicle in northwestern Pakistan
- Blast in northwestern Tank district kills inspector, additional sub-inspector, driver and three members of elite force personnel, says police official
- Attack takes place as Islamabad grapples with surge in militant attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan
PESHAWAR: Six cops were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast that targeted a police vehicle in Pakistan’s northwestern Tank district on Monday, a police official said as Islamabad struggles to contain surging militant attacks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
The IED explosion targeted an armored police vehicle on the Gomal-Jutta Road near the Kot Wali Canal area, Tank police spokesperson Younas Khan said. The blast killed an inspector, an additional sub-inspector, the driver of the vehicle and three members of the police’s elite force personnel.
“The armored police vehicle was completely damaged in the explosion,” Khan said.
He said senior police officials, including District Police Officer (DPO) Tank Shabbir Hussain Shah reached the site of the blast to collect evidence and carry out an operation in the nearby rugged terrain.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the incident, directing authorities to carry out an investigation into the incident.
“The terrorists responsible for this attack will be brought to their logical end at the earliest,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi praised police for their sacrifices against militancy, vowing to bring all those involved in the incident to justice.
“Anti-peace elements would not succeed in their nefarious designs by targeting the police force,” Afridi said as per a statement released from his office.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant outfit has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest attacks targeting law enforcement personnel in KP in the past. The TTP has frequently targeted convoys of security forces, police stations and check-posts besides kidnapping government officials in the region.
Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil to armed outfits such as the TTP. It has also alleged that India backs militant groupswho carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi have consistently denied this.
