Pakistan invites Saudi investment in motorway project on sidelines of OIC meeting

Pakistan's Communications Minister, Aleem Khan (fourth-left) in conversation with Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistics, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser (fifth-left) in Istanbul, Turkiye, on February 14, 2026. (PID)
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Updated 14 February 2026
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Pakistan invites Saudi investment in motorway project on sidelines of OIC meeting

  • Proposed M-10 motorway to link Karachi Port with Hyderabad, says official statement
  • Pakistani and Saudi ministers meet in Istanbul, discuss maritime links, connectivity

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has invited Saudi Arabia to invest in a proposed motorway linking Karachi Port to Hyderabad, according to an official statement issued on Saturday following talks between the two countries on the sidelines of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Istanbul.

The meeting between Pakistan’s Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistics Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser took place during the OIC gathering, where member states discussed transport integration, logistics and regional trade connectivity.

“During the discussions, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan formally invited the Saudi Government to invest in the M-10 Motorway, featuring a new alignment from Karachi Port to Hyderabad,” the statement said.

“He emphasized that Pakistan is keen on fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with Saudi Arabia to modernize its transport sector,” it added.

The statement said the discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in transport, maritime affairs and regional connectivity, with Islamabad seeking to strengthen trade corridors and upgrade port-linked infrastructure.

Al-Jasser expressed interest in modernizing Pakistan’s communications sector and highlighted the importance of digitalization and road surveillance systems, the statement said, adding that both sides also discussed expanding flight operations between the two countries.

The talks were held amid Pakistan’s push for greater international investment.

The country seeks to position itself as a transregional trade hub and it is working to strengthen its supporting infrastructure, including its southern seaports and road and rail network for the efficient movement of goods.
 


Pakistan warn England’s flaky batting to expect a trial by spin

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Pakistan warn England’s flaky batting to expect a trial by spin

  • Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out
  • A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka, through to the semis with a game to spare

Pallekele: Pakistan on Monday warned England’s inconsistent batting line-up to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash in the T20 World Cup Super Eights.

Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan told reporters that England struggled to 146-9 against Sri Lanka’s spinners on Sunday.

Farhan said that England can expect more of the same from Pakistan’s spinners when they meet on the same Pallekele ground in Kandy on Tuesday night.

Pakistan desperately need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out.

A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka for 95 to win by 51 runs, through to the semifinals with a game to spare.

Pakistan would then need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match and hope other results go their way to reach the last four.

“What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,” said the in-form opener Farhan on Monday.

“Sri Lanka have one or two spinners but we have five in all so we will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip,” said Farhan.

Pakistan’s spinners have taken 26 wickets in the four matches so far. Their seamers have dismissed only seven batsmen.

History will be against Pakistan as they have never beaten England in three previous Twenty20 World Cup clashes.

“We are confident and our morale is high,” said Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 against Namibia in Pakistan’s final group match.

“We are focused on this match to win and progress.”

Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, said he was ready for the threat of England’s express pace bowler Jofra Archer.

“Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,” said Farhan.

“So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.”

Pakistan are likely to bring in spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seaming all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

England may name an unchanged side for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell providing their spin options.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the two other teams in Pakistan and England’s Super Eights group. They face each other in Colombo on Wednesday.

The top two teams will qualify for the semifinals.