ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has laid the foundation stone for a 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Smart City, Lahore, which will cost $250 million, state television reported on Tuesday.
The Saudi-German Hospital Network, founded in 1988, is a leading private health care provider in the Middle East and North Africa region. It is operated by the Middle East Healthcare Company and spans Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco and Pakistan.
Known for advanced medical care in specialties like cardiology, neurology and oncology, the Saudi-German Hospital collaborates with top German institutions and integrates AI-driven solutions. The network continues to expand and meet growing health care demands with a reputation for cutting-edge technology and skilled professionals.
“Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has laid the foundation stone of Saudi-German Hospital in Smart City Lahore,” Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) reported. “The hospital will be a 300-bed medical facility and will be completed at a cost of $250 million.”
The hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and provide international standard medical facilities, it said, adding that the project would be a “huge source of employment for the people.”
PTV quoted Sharif as saying that the government values the private sector’s commitment to bringing positive changes to the country’s health care system.
She called improving the health care system her “priority,” with the Saudi-German Hospital marking a key milestone in enhancing public health and establishing a welfare society, according to state media.
Earlier in February, the Saudi Fund for Development approved a $40 million grant to build the King Salman Hospital in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Last August, the Saudi-German Hospital signed a partnership deal with the Capital Smart City in Islamabad.
Saudi Arabia has been a key ally of Pakistan, providing financial aid, oil subsidies and investments in sectors like energy and health care. The two nations share strong religious and cultural ties, with millions of Pakistani expatriates contributing to both economies. Their partnership is further strengthened through trade, defense cooperation and diplomatic support.
Punjab CM lays foundation stone of 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Lahore
https://arab.news/gsbx4
Punjab CM lays foundation stone of 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Lahore
- $250 million hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment along international standards
- The Saudi-German Hospital Network is a leading health care provider in UAE, Egypt, Yemen and Morocco
Pakistan PM launches second nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2025
- Pakistan plans to vaccinate 45 million children against poliovirus nationwide from Apr. 21-27
- Shehbaz Sharif urges Pakistani parents to help vaccination teams administer polio drops
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched Pakistan’s second nationwide vaccination campaign against poliovirus, scheduled to be held from Apr. 21-27, as Islamabad struggles to eradicate the disease.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus.
Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May. The seven-day campaign is going to be the second anti-polio drive to be held this year, and aims to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease.
“It is my request to parents all over Pakistan that they help us out in administering polio drops to their children,” Sharif said during a ceremony in Islamabad.
“Help our teams in the field so that this virus can be eliminated for good.”
Sharif said the government has undertaken stringent security measures in sensitive areas for polio volunteers. He called on authorities to mobilize the public so that they become “soldiers” in the fight against poliovirus.
Earlier, the prime minister kicked off the anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to a few children.
Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage.
Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.
In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Pakistan’s national airline launches first direct Lahore-Baku flight in push for connectivity
- PIA’s flight PK-159 departs from Lahore Airport at 11:50 am with 152 passengers on board for Baku
- Flight will strengthen relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, says Defense Minister Khawaja Asif
KARACHI: Pakistan’s national airline launched the first Lahore to Baku flight on Sunday, marking its latest step to expand travel links amid Islamabad’s push for deeper connectivity with Central Asian states.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) launched its weekly flight from Lahore to Baku as Islamabad strengthens diplomatic and trade ties with Azerbaijan, a key partner in its broader regional outreach. The new route is expected to boost tourism, business travel, and cultural exchange between the two countries.
PIA’s PK-159 flight departed from Lahore Airport at 11:50 am with 152 passengers for Baku. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov attended a ceremony at the airport before the flight’s departure.
“PIA is expanding its network, and Baku is an important addition to this chain,” Asif was quoted as saying by the airline. “This flight will significantly strengthen relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.”
The new flight service is seen as part of Pakistan’s ongoing quest to improve air connectivity with countries in Central Asia, where it has been seeking to expand trade and diplomatic engagement in recent years.
Pakistan is aggressively eyeing opportunities to expand trade and tourism ties with regional allies, Gulf countries, Central Asian states and others as it targets sustainable economic growth.
Pakistan eyes enhanced cooperation with Saudi Arabia to prevent drug trafficking
- Pakistan’s interior minister meets Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki
- Mohsin Naqvi assures Saudi envoy Pakistan has “tightened the noose” around begging mafia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in curbing illicit activities such as drug trafficking and human smuggling, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday.
Pakistan this week organized the Pak-GCC Regional Narcotics Conference, organized by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in Islamabad, where delegates from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait gathered to develop a joint strategy against narcotics trafficking and abuse.
Naqvi visited the Saudi embassy in Islamabad on Sunday where he met Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. The two discussed matters of mutual interest, enhancing bilateral relations and increasing mutual cooperation, the interior ministry said.
“We want to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia to prevent drug trafficking and human smuggling,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by his ministry.
Islamabad has been worried about the trend of Pakistani beggars abusing visas to beg in foreign countries. Pakistan fears this could impact genuine visa-seekers and particularly religious pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia.
According to widespread media reports, Riyadh raised this issue with Islamabad at various forums last year.
Naqvi assured Malki that the government has “tightened the noose” around the begging mafia in Pakistan.
“New conditions are being imposed for obtaining passports to curb begging and illegal immigration,” he said.
Naqvi thanked Saudi Arabia for releasing a Pakistani family that had been “framed” for smuggling narcotics to the Kingdom earlier this year.
“Saudi Arabia provided significant support for the release and repatriation of the innocent family,” he said.
“Thanks to the cooperation of the Saudi government, five members of the family were released and returned home,” he added.
As per the interior ministry, Malki said Riyadh enjoyed close relations with Islamabad and wanted to strengthen them further.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial relations rooted in shared faith, culture and traditions.
Pakistanis are the second-largest expatriate community in the Kingdom, with over 2.5 million living and working in Saudi Arabia, the top source of remittances to the South Asian country.
Security beefed up in Islamabad ahead of religiopolitical party’s pro-Gaza march today
- Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan plans to organize Gaza Solidarity March at 3:00 p.m. in Islamabad today
- Local media reports say major routes leading to Red Zone sealed off with containers, barbed wire
ISLAMABAD: Security has been beefed up in Pakistan’s capital and all routes leading to the Red Zone in Islamabad have been sealed today, Sunday, ahead of a planned Gaza Solidarity March by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) political party.
Religiopolitical party JI had announced it would organize a march toward the US embassy in Islamabad on Apr. 20 to protest Washington’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The JI has held massive protests in Karachi, Lahore and other Pakistani cities this month to protest against Israel’s renewed hostilities in Gaza. The party has also called for a nationwide strike against Israel’s war on Apr. 22.
“Jamaat-e-Islami’s Gaza March is taking place in Islamabad today,” Amirul Azeem, the JI’s general secretary, said in a video message.
“The government of Pakistan has decided to stop this march. I request the people of Pakistan to actively participate in it.”
Azeem said the Islamabad march by the party would remain peaceful similar to its demonstrations in other parts of the country in the recent past. He urged men, women and the elderly from all walks of life to take part in the march and show their support for Palestine.
Local media reported that the government has heightened security measures in the capital ahead of the march, which is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm.
Authorities have blocked three main routes leading to the Red Zone, a high-security area in Islamabad where all the top government buildings, diplomatic missions, and key institutions are located, using containers, barbed wire and concrete barriers.
News reports also mentioned the increased presence of police personnel at various locations in the city.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensives in Gaza have killed over 51,000 people and wounded over 116,000, as per the Gaza Health Ministry.
Afghan PM condemns Pakistan’s ‘unilateral’ deportations
- Pakistan has launched strict campaign to evict by end of month more than 800,000 Afghans
- Afghan PM Hasan Akhund urges Pakistan government to facilitate “dignified return” of refugees
KABUL: Afghanistan’s prime minister condemned on Saturday the “unilateral measures” taken by Pakistan to forcibly deport tens of thousands of Afghans since the start of April.
Pakistan has launched a strict campaign to evict by the end of the month more than 800,000 Afghans who have had their residence permits canceled, including some who were born in Pakistan or lived there for decades.
Pakistan’s top diplomat Ishaq Dar flew to Kabul for a day-long visit on Saturday where he held discussions with Afghan Taliban officials, including Prime Minister Hasan Akhund and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
“Rather than collaborating with the Islamic Emirate on the gradual repatriation process, Pakistan’s unilateral measures are intensifying the problem and hindering progress toward a solution,” Akhund said during his meeting with Dar.
He urged the Pakistani government to “facilitate the dignified return of Afghan refugees,” according to a statement on X.
Earlier, foreign minister Muttaqi “expressed his deep concern and disappointment over the situation and forced deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan,” the ministry’s deputy spokesperson Zia Ahmad said on X.
Ahmad added that Dar had reassured officials that Afghans “will not be mistreated.”
Afghans in Pakistan have reported weeks of arbitrary arrests, extortion and harassment by authorities.
Islamabad has said nearly 85,000 have already crossed into Afghanistan, with convoys of Afghan families heading to border crossings each day fearing raids, arrests or separation from family members.
On Friday, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister Tallal Chaudhry told a news conference that “there will not be any sort of leniency and extension in the deadline.”
The relationship between the two neighbors has soured as attacks in Pakistan’s border regions have soared following the return of the Taliban government in Afghanistan in 2021.
Last year was the deadliest in Pakistan for a decade, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of allowing militants to take refuge in Afghanistan, from where they plan attacks.
The Taliban government denies the charge.
Chaudhry said on Friday that nearly 85,000 Afghans have crossed into Afghanistan since the start of April, the majority of them undocumented.
More than half of them were children, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
The women and girls among those crossing were entering a country where they are banned from education beyond secondary school and barred from many sectors of work.
Afghanistan’s refugees ministry spokesman told AFP on Saturday the Taliban authorities had recorded some 71,000 Afghan returnees through the two main border points with Pakistan between April 1 and 18.
In the first phase of returns in 2023, hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans were forced across the border in the space of a few weeks.
In the second phase announced in March, the Pakistan government canceled the residence permits of more than 800,000 Afghans and warned thousands more awaiting relocation to other countries to leave by the end of April.
The move to expel Afghans is widely supported by Pakistanis.
“They are totally disrespectful toward our country. They have abused us, they have used us. One can’t live in a country if they don’t respect it,” said Ahmad Waleed, standing in his shop on Friday in Rawalpindi, near the capital.
