Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, says that Pakistan had a long-standing brotherly relationship with Saudi Arabia, but now it is turning into an economic relationship, which will have a positive impact on Pakistan’s economy.
In a conversation with Independent Urdu on Wednesday, he said that the culture of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being promoted at one level. Pakistan is trying to increase the exports of food security in Saudi Arabia.
The Pakistani ambassador said that ‘Pakistani The economy Important efforts are underway to improve and Saudi Arabia is an important participant in these efforts, the Prime Minister of Pakistan met with the Saudi Minister of Investment in which discussions were held to give concrete shape to these agreements.
In response to a question, Ambassador Ahmed Farooq said that ‘Saudi Arabia is a safe country, there are currently no visa restrictions on Pakistanis, recently four thousand new workers have also arrived.
’Pakistan Highly skilled workers are in high demand in Saudi Arabia. For this we should train the workers in Pakistan so that they can get better opportunities and send not only laborers but also highly educated people.’
Pakistanis imprisoned in Saudi Arabian jails
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In response to a question about Pakistanis imprisoned in Saudi Arabia’s jails, Pakistani Ambassador Ahmed Farooq said that “Pakistanis are imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for some crime because of the laws of each country, a large number of prisoners were found to be involved in drug crimes.” Yes, community messages are issued frequently by the embassy so that people can earn halal sustenance here and send it to their families.
“The video messages urge them to respect the laws of the host country so as not to be imprisoned. Every year many people are released under amnesty but just as many are re-arrested.”
He said, ‘People who are arrested in criminal activities here have a whole process. The Saudi government also releases people on the occasion of Eid and during Ramadan in a spirit of mercy. But the government has decided to block passports for seven years for people who cause disrepute for Pakistan and they are also being blocked.
A four-day cultural integration program in Saudi Arabia
Organized by the Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Week has started from October 30 at the Saudi Park in Riyadh, where programs based on Pakistani culture will be presented. Important personalities including Pakistani singers, cricketers will participate in the event.
The ambassador of Pakistan posted in Saudi Arabia said that all the events organized in the Swedish Park Riyadh will be free so that more and more foreigners can enjoy each other’s cultural colors. Cultural harmony will be created through this cultural program which has been organized from Pakistan food to Pakistan music.
Economic relations between Islamabad and Riyadh
During the last few months, new ways of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been paved.
On October 10, 2024, in the presence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, who were on a three-day visit to Islamabad, agreements worth more than two billion dollars were signed between Saudi and Pakistani businesses. Memoranda were signed.
An agreement was signed between Islamabad and Riyadh for the establishment of the Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC) to expedite and streamline decision-making and implementation in the areas of political, security, economic and cultural cooperation. could
The purpose of this council is to improve bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially to remove barriers to investment agreements.
On October 29, 2024, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the ongoing Future Investment Initiative Summit in Riyadh, in which he praised the Saudi Vision 2030.
In the meeting, the two leaders reiterated the strong Pakistan-Saudi economic partnership and agreed to further enhance ongoing bilateral cooperation in the scope of trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif mentioned the recent visit of a high-level Saudi delegation led by the Saudi Investment Minister and said that on the basis of the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed during the visit, Pakistan Saudi Arabia economic partnership. is covered.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif thanked Mohammed bin Salman for Saudi Arabia’s support to Islamabad on issues related to international financial institutions.
Appreciating the visionary leadership of the Saudi Crown Prince for organizing the Future Investment Conference, he said that the Saudi Vision 2030 is in line with Pakistan’s key policy objectives.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have shared religious and cultural ties that span decades and are only getting stronger with time, as reflected by this meeting between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. .
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#fraternal #relations #Saudi #Arabia #economic #ties #formed #Pakistani #Ambassador
**Interview with Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ambassador Farooq. In your recent remarks, you emphasized the transformation of the Pakistan-Saudi relationship from a purely brotherly bond to more of an economic partnership. Can you elaborate on what this means for both countries?
**Ambassador Farooq:** Certainly. Historically, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have shared a strong brotherly relationship based on cultural ties and mutual support. However, as we look toward the future, we are actively seeking to strengthen our economic collaboration. This shift will not only enhance our bilateral trade but is also expected to significantly impact Pakistan’s economy positively, particularly in areas like food security, where we see great potential for exports to Saudi Arabia.
**Interviewer:** That’s interesting! You’ve mentioned efforts to improve the Pakistani economy with Saudi Arabia as a key player. Can you share any recent developments in this regard?
**Ambassador Farooq:** Yes, there have been important discussions between our governments. Recently, the Prime Minister of Pakistan met with the Saudi Minister of Investment to finalize several agreements aimed at bolstering economic cooperation. We’ve signed memorandums worth over two billion dollars, which reflects our commitment to enhancing trade and investment relations.
**Interviewer:** Saudi Arabia has also been a destination for many Pakistani workers. What’s the current status regarding work opportunities for Pakistanis there?
**Ambassador Farooq:** Saudi Arabia remains a safe country for Pakistani workers. Currently, we have no visa restrictions, and recently, an influx of workers—about four thousand—has arrived. The demand for highly skilled professionals from Pakistan continues to rise. It’s crucial for us to focus on training our workforce to help them secure better job opportunities, ensuring we send not just laborers but also educated individuals who can contribute effectively.
**Interviewer:** Moving on, there have been concerns regarding Pakistani workers imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Can you provide us with some insights on this issue?
**Ambassador Farooq:** This is indeed a sensitive topic. Most of the Pakistanis imprisoned here are involved in drug-related crimes, which violate local laws. Our embassy consistently issues advisories urging our citizens to respect the laws of Saudi Arabia. While many are released during festive occasions like Eid, there remains a significant number who face re-arrest. We advocate for lawful conduct to protect our citizens’ dignity and rights abroad.
**Interviewer:** On a more positive note, I understand there’s a cultural event taking place soon in Saudi Arabia celebrating Pakistani culture. What can you tell us about it?
**Ambassador Farooq:** Yes, the Pakistan Week, organized as part of the Riyadh Season, will run from October 30. It aims to showcase our rich culture, with various events including music, food, and performances from well-known Pakistani artists and athletes. The aim is to promote cultural harmony and to engage not only Pakistanis but also the local community and foreigners to appreciate our cultural diversity.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ambassador Farooq, for your insights. It’s clear that the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is evolving in meaningful ways, and we look forward to seeing how these developments unfold.
**Ambassador Farooq:** Thank you for having me. I am optimistic about the future of our bilateral relationship and the benefits it will bring to both nations.
