Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Boosting Relations, Development

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcoming Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcoming Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Boosting Relations, Development

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcoming Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcoming Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif (SPA)

Saudi Arabia affirmed its continuous support for Pakistan and its economy and increasing investment cooperation with Islamabad.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah.

During the visit, the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern at the regional and international levels and agreed on the importance to continue coordinating their positions in a way that serves their interests.

A joint statement issued after the meeting stressed the importance of strengthening work through the Saudi-Pakistani Supreme Coordination Council and diversifying trade exchange.

They agreed to increase communication between the private sector in the two countries to discuss trade and investment opportunities and turn them into tangible partnerships.

Saudi Arabia affirmed its support for Pakistan and will discuss the possibility of supporting the Kingdom's $3 billion deposit in Pakistan's central bank by extending its term or through other options.

Pakistan welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision to extend an agreement to finance crude oil products and oil derivatives exports and support economic reforms in Pakistan.

The two sides also agreed to deepen the investment cooperation between the two countries, stimulate partnerships and enable investment integration opportunities between the private sector of the two countries.

The meeting also reiterated the importance of developing cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors to serve the strategic interests following the vision of the two leaderships aimed at boosting ties.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan intend to hold investment forums to introduce the business sectors from both sides to available opportunities.

The two sides also agreed to deepen the investment cooperation between the two countries, stimulate partnerships and enable investment integration opportunities between the private sector of the two countries.

They decided to join efforts to develop the investment environment in the two countries and support several investment sectors of common interest.

The two sides stressed the importance of cooperation regarding the opportunities of the economic transformation programs that Saudi Arabia is witnessing within its Vision 2030.

They seek to benefit from Pakistani expertise and capabilities in several sectors to achieve mutual economic benefits.

The two sides agreed to enhance media cooperation between them.

Pakistan valued the Kingdom's efforts and initiatives in climate change, addressing environmental challenges, and improving the quality of life, particularly the 'Saudi Green' and 'Middle East Green' initiatives.

The two sides expressed their aspiration to implement the two initiatives, stressing the importance of adhering to the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement and the need to develop climate agreements.

Pakistan welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision to extend the agreement to include financing exports of crude oil products and oil derivatives.

They explored ways of cooperation in several fields, including innovative uses of hydrocarbons, electricity, clean technologies for hydrocarbon resources, energy efficiency, and localization of the energy sector. They also discussed cooperation in renewable energy projects.

Islamabad and Riyadh reiterated support for the efforts made by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, the initiatives aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis following Security Council Resolution 2216, Gulf Initiative, and other related mechanisms.

They condemned the Houthi terrorist threat to Saudi Arabia due to the launching of ballistic missiles by Yemeni militants against Saudi facilities and expressed their concern about the threat to global energy supplies.

They stressed the need for the international community to take measures to ensure the Houthis' involvement in political consultations under UN supervision to reach a final and comprehensive political solution.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the statements of the Pakistani PM, asserting his country's keenness to find a solution to all disputes with India, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.



Saudi Leadership Condoles Governor General of Canada over School Shooting

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
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Saudi Leadership Condoles Governor General of Canada over School Shooting

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of condolences to Governor General of Canada Mary Simon over the deadly school shooting in Western Canada.

The Saudi King condemned the heinous criminal act and expressed to the Governor General, the families of the victims, and the friendly people of Canada his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent a similar cable of condolences to the Governor General.


Saudi Health Minister: We Act Proactively on Health Risks

Saudi Health Minister: We Act Proactively on Health Risks
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Saudi Health Minister: We Act Proactively on Health Risks

Saudi Health Minister: We Act Proactively on Health Risks

Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired Tuesday by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, approved the formation of a permanent committee to oversee all matters related to asbestos and ensure enforcement of its ban, marking a new step in public health and regulatory oversight.

Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom approaches health risks with a proactive strategy grounded in clear policies and long-term planning.

“Any risk we detect affecting citizens, the government works to develop the necessary tools to avert it and to continue enhancing quality of life,” Al-Jalajel said, citing previous announcements including a national drowning prevention policy and a strategic drug policy.

Saudi action on asbestos dates back years, and the decision to establish a monitoring committee follows earlier Cabinet rulings. Decisions numbered 1419 and 1422 halted the use of asbestos, barred its inclusion in official specifications, and banned its import, export, and manufacture.

The measures also mandated the replacement and safe disposal of asbestos in buildings and water networks, alongside continued studies due to its health and environmental hazards.

Scientifically, asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring mineral fibers once widely used commercially and, in some cases, still in use. Exposure can be fatal, affecting workers and others who come into contact with the fibers.

The material gained commercial value for its exceptional tensile strength, low heat conductivity, and relative resistance to chemical damage. It has been used for insulation in buildings and in products such as roofing sheets, water supply pipes, fire blankets, plastic fillers, medical packaging, vehicle clutches, and brake linings.

There are six main forms of asbestos, with chrysotile, or white asbestos, among the most widely used today. The World Health Organization has concluded that all forms of asbestos cause cancer. It also links asbestos exposure to chronic respiratory diseases.

Because asbestos has been embedded in construction materials, those involved in building, maintaining, or demolishing affected structures may face risks even decades after installation.

WHO assessments classify all six major forms of asbestos as carcinogenic to humans. Exposure, including to chrysotile, is associated with cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary, as well as mesothelioma, a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings.

Clear scientific evidence also shows it causes chronic respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and other severe lung damage.

The World Health Organization estimates that about 125 million people worldwide are currently exposed to asbestos at work. More than 107,000 people die each year from lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis linked to occupational exposure.

Globally, asbestos is responsible for more than 200,000 deaths annually, according to the WHO, and accounts for roughly one-third of occupational cancer deaths. Thousands more fatalities each year are attributed to domestic exposure.

As of 2024, 50 countries had banned asbestos. In others, uncertainty remains amid insufficient and incomplete data.

 


SDRPY Hosts Yemen Partners Group with UN and International Participation

Officials are seen at the SDRPY-hosted meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the SDRPY-hosted meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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SDRPY Hosts Yemen Partners Group with UN and International Participation

Officials are seen at the SDRPY-hosted meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the SDRPY-hosted meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY) hosted in Riyadh on Wednesday a meeting of the Yemen Partners Group (YPG), co-chaired by the Yemeni government, United Kingdom, and World Bank, with the participation of the United Nations and international organizations.

Yemeni Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Shaya Mohsin Zindani; UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg; UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Julien Harneis and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Supervisor General Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, as well as a number of ambassadors, representatives of international organizations, and donor entities attended the meeting.

Zindani expressed confidence in the new government and its clearly defined priorities that it will work to implement, which will help achieve stability and economic recovery.

He stressed the government’s aim to maximize benefit from the vital projects and initiatives provided by Saudi Arabia through the SDRPY, which offers important support for basic sectors and for boosting development efforts across Yemen.

Zindani expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its continued support to Yemen, commending the level of cooperation with the SDRPY and its efforts in supporting and empowering national institutions.

For his part, Grundberg emphasized the importance of the development projects provided by the Kingdom, particularly at this stage, noting positive indicators in Yemen, especially improvements in energy-sector stability.

Governor of the Central Bank Ahmed Ghaleb reviewed the bank’s priorities, stressing its commitment to transparency, the need to combat inflation, and the importance of international coordination and support to address challenges.

Al Jaber underscored the importance of continuing joint efforts to overcome obstacles facing peace and development in Yemen under the leadership of the Yemeni government.

The meeting is an important opportunity to learn about the priorities of the government and Central Bank, strengthening coordination to ensure that development and financial support is directed efficiently and effectively, and to assist donor entities and international organizations in aligning their interventions with the government’s priorities, he added.

The meeting reviewed a package of Saudi development projects worth SAR1.9 billion provided to Yemen in January, which helped boost energy-sector stability through the fuel derivatives grant, ensuring the continued operation of hospitals and vital service facilities.

It reviewed other development projects and initiatives scheduled for delivery during the coming period.