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unveils ambitious SAUDI DELEGATION LED BY FM PRINCE PM plan to slash costs for FAISAL BIN FARHAN LANDS IN PAKISTAN electricity common citizens
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Tuesday, 16 April, 2024 I 7 Shawwal, 1445
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DAR WELCOMES VISITING DELEGATION AT AIRPORT, REFLECTING WARM RELATIONSHIP, BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
ISLAMABAD STAFF CORRESPONDENT
A high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a two-day visit. The Saudi foreign minister was warmly welcomed upon arrival in Islamabad, with a red carpet reception. He was received by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the tarmac, reflecting the close relationship and brotherhood between the two countries. Prince Faisal was presented with bouquets by children upon arrival, and he inspected the static guard while the military band played. The visit aims to fast-track the implementation of agreements made between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during their recent meeting in Makkah. The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
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SAUDI DELEGATION TO DISCUSS ACCELERATING PROCESS OF A $5 BILLION INVESTMENT IN PAKISTAN
The delegation comprises key officials including Saudi Minister of Water and Agriculture Eng Abdul Rahman Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim AlKhorayef, Deputy Minister of Investment Badr AlBadr, Head of Saudi Special Committee Mohammad Mazyed Al Towaijri, and senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Saudi Fund for General Investments. During its stay, the Saudi delegation is expected to engage in meetings with the president, the prime minister, the foreign minister, and relevant ministers, as well as the chief of army staff and the apex committee of SIFC. The visit is anticipated to provide a significant boost to bilateral cooperation and foster a mutually beneficial economic partnership between the two nations. Earlier, people familiar with the development said that the top Saudi diplomat will be accompanied by key ministers from the kingdom, including energy and investment. The visit is a follow-up of PM Shehbaz’s recent trip
Mohsin Naqvi sees ‘Indian hand’ in Amir Tamba’s murder LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said India was suspected to be behind murder of Amir Sarfraz Tamba, who allegedly tortured to death an Indian terrorist Sarabjit Singh in jail in 2013. The interior minister said India was involved in four other murders as well prior to Tamba’s killing. “Police are investigating the firing on Amir Tamba and so far, they suspect India is behind it. India was involved in four other murder incidents on a similar pattern as well. However, it will not be suitable to say anything until the investigation is complete,” he said addressing the
media at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) office in Lahore. Police on Sunday said two motorcycle riders fatally shot Tamba in the limits of Islampura police on Sunday. The victim was shifted to hospital but he succumbed to his wounds, they said. Police registered a case against the unidentified bikers on the complaint of Tamba’s brother Junaid Sarfraz, cordoned off the area and started searching for the shooters with the help of CCTV footage. In April 2013, Tamba and Mudasir Munir allegedly attacked Sarabjit Singh with bricks and iron rods in Kot Lakhpat jail. Singh was sentenced to death for a series of bomb attacks that killed 14 people in
Lahore and Faisalabad in 1990. On December 14, 2018, a sessions court in Lahore acquitted Tamba and Munir of the charge of killing Singh and ordered their release after all witnesses retracted their statements. Tamba, 45, was unmarried and lived with his brothers in a fivemarla house in Islampura. He was a spice dealer. India admits to orchestrating killings in Pakistan During a televised interview on April 5, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh admitted to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s policy of orchestrating killings in Pakistan.
Malik Riaz’s son allegedly transferred 245 kanals of land in Bani Gala to Farhat Shahzadi for Rs 53.28 crores. What link does the transaction have with the Al Qadir case? g
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FORMER PRIME MINISTER IMRAN KHAN WAS FIRST ARRESTED IN REFERENCE TO AL QADIR TRUST CASE, WHICH HAS NOW UNRAVELED AND OVERRUN A NUMBER OF FORMER PM’S CLOSE ASSOCIATES PROFIT
ABDULLAH NIAZI
A bombshell revelation during the hearing of an accountability in the first week of April has opened a new avenue in the Al-Qadir Trust Case that also involves property tycoon Malik Riaz, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and his wife Bushra Bibi. A prosecution witness claimed during their testimony that the son of property tycoon Malik Riaz, Ali Riaz Malik, bought land for Farah Shahzadi in Bani Gali. Farah Shahzadi is a known associate of former first lady Bushra Bibi and has been linked in the case as well. According to the details provided
by the witness, who is a patwari of Circle Mohra Noor (Banigala), claimed that nearly 245 Kanals of land in Bani Gala had been transferred in the name of Farah Shahzadi at a declared cost of Rs 53.28 crores. The witness came armed with fourteen mutations that showed the different phases in which the land was transferred. The words of the testimony, as reported by Dawn, said “the land measuring 100 kanals, one marla was transferred in the name of Farhat Shahzadi against the consideration of Rs25 crores and 1 lakh 25,000, while the land measuring 100 kanals, five marlas was transferred in the name of Farhat Shahzadi for the consid-
Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 287 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
eration of Rs 25 crore, 6 lakhs and 25000, while the land measuring 40 kanals was transferred in the name of Farhat Shahzadi for the consideration of Rs 3.2 crores.” At the same time, the witness also clarified that there seemed to be no direct involvement of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, since “as per record, the names of accused Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and Bushra Imran are not mentioned there as witnesses or in any manner whatsoever” The revelations come a few weeks after the same accountability court froze the properties of property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son.
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to Saudi Arabia where he held wide-ranging talks with the Saudi crown prince. The primary objective of his visit was to persuade the Saudi government to help Pakistan revitalise its economy through investments. In the wake of the meeting between the prime minister and the de facto Saudi ruler, both parties reached an agreement to accelerate the process of a $5 billion investment, previously discussed between the two nations. Sources close to the matter revealed that the Saudi crown prince informed PM Shehbaz about sending a high-level delegation to Islamabad shortly to finalise the details of the investment. Pakistan is hoping to attract billions of dollars in investment from Saudi Arabia as part of its initiative under the banner of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military forum aimed at removing bottlenecks and other bureaucratic hurdles hindering foreign investment. Islamabad is offering Saudi investors stakes in the multi-billion-dollar Reko Diq mine projects. Similarly, the SIFC is keen for Saudis to invest in the agricultural sector. Sources have indicated that the Saudi foreign minister and other delegation members will receive detailed presentations about the potential areas of investment. Pakistan is eager for investments to commence sooner rather than later, as it will not only enhance foreign reserves but also stimulate economic growth. Pakistan requires an injection of billions of dollars if it wants to meet its external liabilities and avoid repeatedly turning to international financial institutions for bailouts. The SIFC was established to tackle the country’s economic challenges through foreign investment. Pakistan aims to attract $70 billion in investment from Gulf countries over the next 3 to 5 years. Observers, however, remain skeptical, stating that much depends on political stability and the tangible projects offered to investors. One factor that may potentially undermine Pakistan’s plans is the growing uncertainty in the region. The recent Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel could alter the dynamics.
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DIRECTIVES INCLUDE SHIFT TO LOCAL COAL, ACCELERATING RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS, AND REDUCING WHEELING PRICE FOR INDUSTRY PROFIT
AGENCIES
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned for taking solid measures including shifting of imported coal run plants, improvement in power supply system, setting up cost effective and renewable energy plants and functioning of solar projects to reduce per unit cost of electricity to facilitate the common man. The directives were issued by the prime minister while chairing a high level review meeting regarding the power sector here on Monday. Federal Ministers including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Dr Musadik Malik, former minister Muhammad Ali, Bilal Zaheer Kiyani MNA, Rana Ahsan Afzal, Salman Ahmed and relevant authorities attended the meeting, said a press release issued by PM Office Media Wing. Premier Shehbaz Sharif directed for shifting of coalrun power plants from the imported fuel to local coal, besides improvement in the power supply system. Only clean, cost effective and renewable power plants should be set up in the country in future, he added. The meeting was apprised of 600 MW solar power project and the prime minister directed for expediting work on the foreign investment in this regard. The prime minister also asked for proposals for better utilisation of the current surplus power generation capacity in industries. He observed that the wheeling price of electricity should be reduced for the industrial consumers so that power supply at reduced price could be made possible, besides for the industrial development and increase in export, grid stations should be installed near big industries.
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