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Pakistan approves free visas for 126 countries to boost business, tourism

Pakistan approves free visas for 126 countries to boost business, tourism
In this handout photograph, taken on July 23, 2024, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs the National Export Development Board meeting in Islamabad. (Photo courtesy: PMO)
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Updated 24 July 2024
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Pakistan approves free visas for 126 countries to boost business, tourism

Pakistan approves free visas for 126 countries to boost business, tourism
  • Shehbaz Sharif says the government has taken the number of countries exempt from visa fees to 126
  • He says the decision will make Pakistan an attractive destination, further boost its forex reserves
Updated 24 July 2024
Shahjahan Khurram
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday Pakistan had made positive changes to its visa policy to enhance ease of doing business as the country strives to strengthen its economy by attracting foreign investment and exploring more trade opportunities.
Pakistan has faced a prolonged economic crisis that led the country to seek financial assistance from friendly nations and global lenders like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Earlier this month, Pakistan secured a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a $7 billion bailout facility to strengthen macroeconomic gains made over the last year, during which the country bolstered its forex reserves and brought down inflation from 38 percent to a little over 12 percent.
However, the government has also actively pursued economic diplomacy in the region by seeking more investment and enhancing trade and regional connectivity.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, the prime minister mentioned consultations with his team about two weeks ago, during which the visa policy came up for discussion.
“We have brought a major change in the visa regime, taking the number of countries exempt from visa fees to 126,” he said. “Tourists, businessmen, and other travelers from these 126 countries will not be charged visa fees.”
He pointed out this would lead to a loss of few million dollars, but would be instrumental in promoting investment in the country.
“It was mutually agreed that we should take this quantum jump to ensure ease of doing business in Pakistan,” he added.
The prime minister expressed hope the new visa policy would make Pakistan an attractive destination for foreigners.
He announced that visas would be issued within 24 hours to visitors planning to come to Pakistan.
Sharif noted this step would lead to a significant increase in large-scale economic activities in the country and further boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
While acknowledging the security challenges faced by the country, he added the coalition government was making concerted efforts to address the situation.

Topics: Prime Minsiter Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan condemns Israeli PM’s ‘irresponsible’ statement on establishing Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan condemns Israeli PM’s ‘irresponsible’ statement on establishing Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia
Updated 33 sec ago
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Pakistan condemns Israeli PM’s ‘irresponsible’ statement on establishing Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan condemns Israeli PM’s ‘irresponsible’ statement on establishing Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia
  • Pakistan says Netanyahu’s remarks “deeply offensive,” undermine legitimate rights of Palestinian people
  • Pakistan stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia, commends its steadfast support for Palestinians, says Deputy PM Dar
Updated 33 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday strongly condemned Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, describing it as “irresponsible, provocative and thoughtless,” reiterating that such remarks disregard the legitimate rights of the people of Palestine. 

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday responded sharply to Netanyahu’s remarks, saying that it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza.”

“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar stated that the Israeli remark is irresponsible, provocative and thoughtless, which is not only deeply offensive but also undermines and disregards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent State on their own historical and legitimate territory,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said. 

Dar said Pakistan stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and commends its steadfast support for Palestinians and their cause. 

“Any attempt to undermine Saudi Arabia’s unwavering position and misrepresentation of its commitment to the Palestinian cause are deeply regrettable,” he was quoted as saying by the foreign ministry. 

The deputy prime minister said Pakistan supports the right of Palestinians to establish an independent and sovereign state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital. 

“Any proposal that seeks to displace or relocate the Palestinian people from their ancestral homeland is unacceptable and constitutes a blatant violation of international law, United Nations resolutions and the principles of justice and fairness,” the statement said. 

Dar said Pakistan reiterates its “unflinching support” for the Palestinian cause and will continue to work closely with Saudi Arabia and other members of the international community to advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people. 

He called for a “just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.”

“Pakistan urges the international community to denounce this provocative remark and hold Israel accountable for its continued attempts to undermine the peace process,” the statement said. 

Netanyahu’s remarks come amid an uneasy six-week truce reached between Hamas and Israel last month which ended 15 months of war.

The truce included the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

Netanyahu’s comments follow US President Donald Trump’s suggestion earlier this month that Palestinians residing in Gaza should be resettled in Egypt, Jordan or other countries. 

The proposal was rejected by both Egypt and Jordan and countries including Pakistan, prompting condemnation from various international rights groups as well.

Topics: Pakistan

Pakistan holds inaugural ‘Aman Dialogue 2025’ to foster international maritime cooperation

Pakistan holds inaugural ‘Aman Dialogue 2025’ to foster international maritime cooperation
Updated 09 February 2025
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Pakistan holds inaugural ‘Aman Dialogue 2025’ to foster international maritime cooperation

Pakistan holds inaugural ‘Aman Dialogue 2025’ to foster international maritime cooperation
  • Aman Dialogue brings together chiefs of navies, coast guards and defense forces from Feb. 9-10
  • Conference to focus on piracy, narco-trafficking and resource exploitation maritime challenges
Updated 09 February 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan held the inaugural session of the Aman Dialogue 2025 in Karachi on Sunday to foster international maritime cooperation among several countries around the world, stressing the importance of “unhindered activity” in seas to promote economic cooperation. 

The Aman Dialogue is being held from Feb. 9-10 and brings together chiefs of navies, coast guards and defense forces. It aims to provide them an opportunity to exchange views on global and regional security and adopt innovative solutions. 

This year’s conference is themed: “Secure Seas, Prosperous Future,” and focuses on security challenges in the Indian Ocean. These include strategic competition, piracy, narco-trafficking, non-state actors, resource exploitation, climate change, emerging technologies such as AI and unmanned systems, the blue economy and the need for global collaboration to ensure stability and prosperity.

“The global economic system is almost wholly dependent upon unhindered activity in the maritime domain,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said at an event held to mark the opening of the dialogue. 

“The uninterrupted use of seas and oceans remain the strategic interests of all nations,” he added. 

Asif called on countries to synergize their efforts to extract greater economic gains, saying that the maritime domain is at a “critical crossroads.”

“Our oceans carrying over 80 percent of global trade represent not only shipping lanes but the arteries of global prosperity,” the minister said, adding that the Indian Ocean alone holds over 50 percent of global oil and gas reserves. 

The dialogue coincides with the AMAN-25 multinational naval exercise, which kicked off on Friday in Karachi. Pakistan Navy’s fleet commander lauded the participation of 60 nations on Friday, hailing it as a testament to the world community’s desire for peace.

The Pakistan Navy has conducted the AMAN maritime exercise every two years since 2007 under the theme “Together For Peace,” involving ships, aircraft and special operations forces.

Topics: Aman Dialogue 2025 Pakistan

Pakistan PM to attend World Governments Summit in UAE from Feb. 10-11 

Pakistan PM to attend World Governments Summit in UAE from Feb. 10-11 
Updated 09 February 2025
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Pakistan PM to attend World Governments Summit in UAE from Feb. 10-11 

Pakistan PM to attend World Governments Summit in UAE from Feb. 10-11 
  • Shehbaz Sharif to deliver keynote address, highlight Pakistan’s vision for economic growth and governance reforms at summit
  • Pakistani premier to meet world leaders, UAE leadership and CEOs of major multinational companies at summit, says foreign office 
Updated 09 February 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Feb. 10-11 to take part in the World Governments Summit (WGS), the foreign office said on Sunday, adding that the premier will engage in discussions with world leaders about the future of governance and international cooperation. 

According to the WGS’ official website, over 400 ministers and thousands of industry leaders, experts, and policymakers will head to Dubai for the summit which will be held from Feb. 11-13. As per the WGS, the event will also welcome more than 80 international, regional and intergovernmental organizations to join in the discussion on the future of governance, global challenges and their innovative solutions. 

This will be Sharif’s second visit to the UAE since assuming office in March last year, the foreign office said. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other key members of the federal cabinet. 

“During his visit, the Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the WGS, highlighting Pakistan’s vision for inclusive economic growth, digital transformation and governance reforms,” the foreign office said. 

“He will also hold bilateral meetings with the UAE leadership as well as engage with Heads of State/Government from participating countries and leading CEOs of major multinational companies.”

The statement said Sharif’s visit underscores Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further strengthening its ties with the UAE, fostering greater economic collaboration and exploring new avenues of partnership for mutual prosperity.

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry.

Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.

It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates, making it the second-largest Pakistani expatriate community worldwide, as per the foreign office, and a major source of foreign workers’ remittances for Pakistan. 

Pakistan and UAE have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their business and investment relations. In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure, a Pakistani official said, amid Pakistani caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum’s summit.

Topics: PM Shehbaz Sharif World Governments Summit UAE

Pakistan sends 23rd relief consignment for Palestine, Lebanon and Syria

Pakistan sends 23rd relief consignment for Palestine, Lebanon and Syria
Updated 09 February 2025
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Pakistan sends 23rd relief consignment for Palestine, Lebanon and Syria

Pakistan sends 23rd relief consignment for Palestine, Lebanon and Syria
  • Israel’s war in Gaza killed over 48,000 people and displaced millions of others, while thousands more have been affected in Lebanon, Syria
  • Pakistan has so far dispatched 1,803 tons of essential supplies for the war-affected people in the region, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s office says
Updated 09 February 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has dispatched a 23rd relief consignment for the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said on Sunday.
This consignment, comprising 50 tons of essential supplies, was sent by the NDMA in collaboration with Pakistani charity, Al-Khidmat Foundation, to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by Israeli military actions in the region.
Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after Oct. 2023 attacks by Hamas, has killed over 48,000 people, injured thousands more and displaced millions of people in the territory, whereas thousands of others have been affected by Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Syria.
The relief consignment was dispatched through a chartered flight from the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi to Jordan, according to PM Sharif’s office.
“The relief consignment included tin meat, powdered milk, hygiene kits, clothing, blankets, tents, and sleeping bags,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The South Asian country has also called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories, including Golan Heights, and allow United Nations (UN) peacekeepers to freely operate in the region to ensure compliance with international agreements.
“The Government of Pakistan continues to send relief supplies based on the needs of the war-affected populations of Lebanon, Syria and Palestine,” Sharif’s office said.
“In total, up till now, 1,803 tons of relief items have been dispatched.”

Topics: Palestine

Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in tech sector with over 100 local firms joining LEAP 2025 in Riyadh

Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in tech sector with over 100 local firms joining LEAP 2025 in Riyadh
Updated 09 February 2025
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Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in tech sector with over 100 local firms joining LEAP 2025 in Riyadh

Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in tech sector with over 100 local firms joining LEAP 2025 in Riyadh
  • The fourth edition of the LEAP conference aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the global tech sector
  • IT minister says Pakistan, which recorded $348 million IT exports in Dec., offers ‘world-class’ digital services, investment opportunities
Updated 09 February 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Sunday invited Saudi businessmen to invest in Pakistan’s tech sector, highlighting the participation of over 100 Pakistani firms in the LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh.

The minister expressed these views while addressing the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum in Riyadh, a networking event jointly organized by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), ahead of the four-day LEAP tech conference being held on Feb. 9-12.

This is the fourth edition of LEAP, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s award-winning global technology event for which entrepreneurs, investors and startups have converged in Riyadh to present their products to an anticipated audience of over 170,000 visitors. The latest edition follows last year’s record-breaking LEAP 2024, which saw $13.4 billion in investments and project commitments. Under the theme “Into New Worlds,” LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector.

Pakistan recorded the highest-ever monthly IT exports of $348 million in Dec. 2024, up by 15 percent year-on-year and 12 percent month-on-month, according to official data. The LEAP event offers Pakistani firms a platform to collaborate with stakeholders, explore business opportunities and showcase Pakistan’s diverse IT exports, including software development, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, gaming and robotics.

“Pakistan seeks strong partnerships in advanced technology under Saudi Vision 2030 and we invite Saudi investors to invest in Pakistan’s fintech, cybersecurity, and cloud computing sectors,” Khawaja said.

“Pakistan is making its largest participation in LEAP 2025, with over 100 tech companies and more than 1,000 participants.”

LEAP 2025 will debut Tech Arena, a platform for emerging innovations, featuring a ‘Live TV’ stage hosted by BBC Click’s Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. It is one of two new segments at LEAP 2025, alongside the SportsTech stage, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for innovation and technological growth.

Visitors will explore AI, mixed reality, fashion tech, and brain-computer interfaces. Key highlights include Anouk Wipprecht’s Tech Couture exhibit, Adobe’s ‘Project Primrose’ digital dress technology, and Aramco-backed Terra Drone’s long-range medical delivery system. Saudi oil giant Aramco will also showcase SARA, an AI-driven assistant for decision-making. Engine VR will present its Golden Gloves VR boxing platform with live demos by UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez, while Alwaleed Philanthropies will showcase its Atlai AI program to support global deforestation monitoring. XPANCEO will introduce smart contact lenses with integrated computing.

Pakistan is providing world-class digital services and offering excellent opportunities for investors, according to Khawaja.

“We are not just participating [in LEAP 2025] but signing memorandums of understandings and making agreements for real economic growth through cooperation,” she said, adding that the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) was a key partner in the South Asian country’s digital growth.

The 16-member DCO, the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental organization, focuses on the acceleration of growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. Pakistan is a key member of the organization.

Khawaja said the Digital Nation Act 2025 marked a new era in the Pakistani digital realm and provided a golden opportunity for digital investment and technological collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The act aims to align Pakistan’s economy, governance and services with global digital standards.

“The Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Forum will soon be held in Islamabad, bringing together global investors, including from Saudi Arabia,” she added.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties LEAP 2025 Riyadh

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