PM Sharif invites Saudi investors to Pakistan, offers business facilitation during visit to Kingdom

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (center) and his delegation in a meeting with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, head of the Joint Task Force for Economic Engagement, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 20, 2025. (PID)
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Updated 21 March 2025
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PM Sharif invites Saudi investors to Pakistan, offers business facilitation during visit to Kingdom

  • Pakistan has tried to strengthened business-to-business relations with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in recent years
  • Both sides announced in Oct. they had signed 34 memorandums of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Saudi businessperson to invest in Pakistan and offered to facilitate them in setting up businesses in the South Asian country, Sharif’s office said on Thursday.
The statement came after Sharif’s meeting with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, head of the Joint Task Force for Economic Engagement, during the Pakistan premier’s visit to the Kingdom.
Pakistan has tried to strengthened business-to-business (B2B) relations with Saudi Arabia, with both sides announcing in last Oct. they had signed 34 memorandums of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion.
Discussions in Thursday’s meeting focused on strengthening economic cooperation, attracting Saudi investments, and expediting joint initiatives in key sectors, according to Pakistan PM’s office.
“The PM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating Saudi investors, highlighting the country’s strategic position and investment-friendly policies,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
“He emphasized Pakistan’s vast potential in energy, infrastructure, agriculture and technology, inviting Saudi businesses to explore opportunities under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).”
The Saudi investment minister expressed the Kingdom’s “strong interest” in deepening economic ties with Pakistan, according to the statement.
“They discussed enhancing institutional collaboration to accelerate investment projects and ensure their smooth implementation,” it said.
“Both sides agreed to further strengthen the Pakistan-Saudi economic partnership through structured engagements and swift execution of joint projects.”
Later, Sharif also visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah along with his delegation.




Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (centre) offers prayer at Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on March 20, 2025. (PID)


Sharif is on a four-day visit to the Kingdom to strengthen trade and investment ties. The two countries enjoy close defense, diplomatic, political and cultural relations, though they have further consolidated their relations in recent years as Pakistan grappled with a prolonged economic crisis and sought the kingdom’s help.
The Kingdom is also home to more than two million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances.


Punjab extends Basant timings as Lahore marks festival with traditional zeal

Updated 08 February 2026
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Punjab extends Basant timings as Lahore marks festival with traditional zeal

  • The festival marking the onset of spring was banned in 2008 after deaths and injuries to motorcyclists and pedestrians from stray kite strings
  • Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz says the extension is a ‘reward for the people of Lahore for celebrating Basant with great discipline and for responsibly’

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has extended timings for the Basant kite-flying festival till early Monday morning, she announced on Sunday, as people in the provincial capital of Lahore celebrated the spring festival with traditional zeal for the third consecutive day.

The Basant, a festival marking the onset of spring, was banned in 2008 after deaths and injuries to motorcyclists and pedestrians from stray kite strings — sometimes coated with metal to make them more fearsome in mid-air battles.

The government of CM Nawaz this year allowed Basant festivities in the provincial capital of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, on Feb. 6-8, but issued an extensive safety plan regarding kite materials and motorcyclists and pedestrians to avoid any untoward incident.

Extravagantly colored kites continued to duel above Lahore and residents gathered on rooftops with family, friends and visitors for the third day on Sunday as the city celebrated the lifting of an 18-year ban on the spectacular three-day kite-flying festival.

“I am pleased to announce that Basant celebrations timings are being extended till 5:00 AM tomorrow morning,” CM Nawaz said in an X post on Sunday, highlighting the festivity, unity and joy across Lahore.

“This extension is a reward for the people of Lahore for celebrating Basant with great discipline and for responsibly following all safety SOPs (standard operating procedures).”

The Punjab government ‍banned metallic or chemical-coated strings. Kites ‍and strings had to bear individual QR codes so they could be traced, and ‍motorcyclists had to attach safety rods to their bikes to fend off stray thread.

Some 4,600 producers registered with the authorities to sell kites and strings ahead of the festival. Authorities had made it mandatory for owners to register rooftops with 30 or more revelers, while dozens of roofs ​had been declared off-limits after inspections.

“Please continue to celebrate safely, stay away from electric wires, secure your rooftops, and follow all guidelines,” Nawaz said. “Let’s make this historic Basant joyful, safe, and memorable for everyone.”