ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday met with Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Salah bin Muhammad Al-Budair, in Lahore and told him that his visit would further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Sharif’s office said.
Sheikh Dr. Salah bin Muhammad Al-Budair arrived on a seven-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday. Since his arrival, the Imam of Prophet’s Mosque has met President Asif Ali Zardari, Army Chief General Asim Munir, and has led Friday prayers at Shah Faisal Mosque in the federal capital.
During their meeting, PM Sharif told Sheikh Salah that his visit was an “honor” for the South Asian country and expressed his best wishes for King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Sharif’s office.
“The people of Pakistan have immense respect for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi leadership,” Sharif’s office quoted him as telling the Imam of Prophet’s Mosque. “Your visit will further improve relations between the two countries.”
The Prophet’s Mosque, more popularly known as Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, holds profound historical and spiritual significance in Islam, having been built by the first Muslim community under the supervision of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
It is also his last resting place, making imams of this sacred mosque deeply respected across the Muslim world and widely viewed as embodiments of religious devotion and scholarly wisdom.
During the meeting, Sheikh Salah expressed his gratitude to the premier for the hospitality accorded to him in Pakistan, according to Sharif’s office. The meeting was also attended by members of PM Sharif’s cabinet and Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong economic, defense and religious ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top source of remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Pakistan has also been frequently visited by the prayer leader of the Grand Mosque in Makkah in the past. These visits, along with high-level official exchanges, have played a significant role in strengthening the relations between the two countries.
Saudi religious scholars, such as the prayer leaders of the two holy mosques, have fostered closer ties between the two countries, with many of them often taking a special interest in Islamic education and religious institutions in Pakistan.
Sheikh Salah is also scheduled to meet prominent Pakistani scholars and visit universities during his stay in the South Asian country.
PM says visit of Imam of Prophet’s Mosque to further strengthen Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties
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PM says visit of Imam of Prophet’s Mosque to further strengthen Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties
- Sheikh Dr. Salah bin Muhammad Al-Budair arrived on a seven-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday
- He is also scheduled to meet prominent Pakistani scholars and visit universities during his stay
World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues
- Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
- World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.
"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."
Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.
“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.
“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”
In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.
It followed a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.
