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 expands crypto engagement with appearance at Mar-a-Lago finance forum

Updated 19 February 2026
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Pakistan expands crypto engagement with appearance at Mar-a-Lago finance forum

  • Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal bin Saqib attends World Liberty Financial event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate
  • Discussions focused on future of global financial infrastructure, digital assets, stablecoins, capital markets innovation, says Saqib’s office 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman and Minister of State Bilal bin Saqib joined global finance leaders at an event hosted by World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture linked to US President Donald Trump’s family, Saqib’s office said on Thursday. 

The event was hosted by World Liberty Financial, a crypto-based finance platform launched in September 2024 linked to Trump’s family. According to Saqib’s office, the gathering was held at Mar-a-Lago, the private estate and club owned by Trump in Florida. 

Speakers and attendees at the event included David Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, Adena Friedman, chairperson and CEO of Nasdaq as well as Lynn Martin, president of the New York Stock Exchange, Saqib’s office said. The event was organized and hosted by Eric Trump and American businesspersons Zach Witkoff and Alex Witkoff. 

“Discussions focused on the future of global financial infrastructure, digital assets, stablecoins, capital markets innovation and the evolving relationship between regulation and emerging financial technologies,” the statement said. 

It said Saqib’s attendance at the event reflected Pakistan’s growing engagement with global discussions shaping the next phase of financial and technological transformation.

“As Pakistan moves toward modernizing its financial infrastructure and strengthening its position in the global digital economy, such high-level engagements signal increasing international recognition of the country’s regulatory direction and leadership,” the statement added. 

Last month, Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding with a company affiliated with World Liberty Financial to explore the use of a dollar-linked stablecoin for cross-border payments.

Pakistan has stepped up efforts recently to regulate its digital asset sector and is exploring digital currency initiatives as part of broader measures to reduce cash usage.