Pakistan PM lays foundation stone of Saudi-funded museum depicting life of Prophet Muhammad

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Secretary General of Muslim World League Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa unveiling a plaque to lay the foundation stone of Seerat Museum in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 13, 2024. (Photo courtesy: @GovtofPakistan /X)
Short Url
Updated 15 April 2024
Follow

Pakistan PM lays foundation stone of Saudi-funded museum depicting life of Prophet Muhammad

  • Shehbaz Sharif says Seerat Museum will help counter Islamophobia, spread knowledge about teachings of Prophet Muhammad
  • The ceremony in Islamabad was attended by Muslim World League (MWL) secretary-general, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday laid foundation stone of a museum that would exhibit relics related to the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Pakistani state media reported.

The ceremony to lay foundation stone of the Seerat Museum in Islamabad was attended by Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Sharif said the museum would help counter Islamophobia and spread knowledge about the teachings and life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) among people living in Pakistan and abroad.

“The Seerat Museum would not only raise awareness about the life, character and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but would also educate people how to live their lives and manage relationships with other people,” he was quoted as saying by the APP news agency.

The prime minister thanked Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for extending their cooperation for Seerat Museum. He lauded the MWL secretary-general for his guidance and support for the project.

The development came during Dr. Al-Issa’s nine-day visit to Pakistan, aimed at fostering interfaith harmony and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relations with Pakistan.

During his ongoing visit that began on April 7, Dr. Al-Issa has delivered the Eid Al-Fitr sermon at the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad and visited an orphanage in the Pakistani capital, where he shared the joy of Eid Al-Fitr with orphaned children.

In his sermon, Al-Issa called on Muslims to keep Palestinians close to their hearts and in their prayers as they celebrated Eid. He also spoke about the responsibility of Muslims to use their actions to project Islam in its true light.


Pakistan sells Multan Sultans for record $8.7 million ahead of PSL 11th edition

Updated 5 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan sells Multan Sultans for record $8.7 million ahead of PSL 11th edition

  • New owner Walee Technologies plans to change franchise’s name to Rawalpindi
  • PCB chairman says ‘Multan Sultans still dear to my heart, will think of something’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday sold Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans for a record Rs2.45 billion ($8.7 million), ahead of the 11th edition of the Twenty20 tournament.

The 11th edition of the tournament will kick off on March 26, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday, which will feature eight franchises competing across multiple venues.

The previous owner of Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, announced in Dec. he was walking away from the ownership of the franchise. The PCB said earlier said it will run the Multan Sultans team for the 11th edition before looking for a potential buyer.

Walee Technologies, which specializes in media, finance and technology, bought the rights for the franchise for $8.7 million at an auction held in Lahore, with local media reporting the new owner planned to change its name to Rawalpindi.

“I cannot ask the person paying Rs2.45bn to keep the name Multan Sultans,” Naqvi told reporters after the auction. “Multan Sultans is still dear to my heart, but we will think of something.”

Walee Technologies was among five bidders that participated in the auction, which came a month after Hyderabad and Sialkot joined the PSL 11th edition.

FKS, an aviation and health care conglomerate based in the US who also run the Chicago Kingsmen team, bought the Hyderabad franchise for a whopping Rs1.75 billion ($6.2 million). The other winner was OZ

Developers, a real estate consortium, which bought the Sialkot franchise for Rs1.85 billion ($6.55 million) at the auction.

The PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team.

The league, which features a mix of local and international players, already had six city-based teams, including Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.