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PM, SAUDI CROWN PRINCE REAFFIRM DEEP ROOTED, STRATEGIC, AND FRATERNAL TIES Saturday, 7 June, 2025 I 10 Zilhaj, 1446
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PM SHEHBAZ LAUDS SAUDI ARABIA’S PROACTIVE ROLE DURING RECENT TENSIONS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 331 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
TWO LEADERS ALSO HOLD DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON THE DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA
PREMIER, PRINCE MOHAMMED REAFFIRM MUTUAL COMMITMENT TO DEEPENING PAK-KSA MULTIFACETED RELATIONSHIP
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MAKKAH/ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s proactive role during recent tensions between Pakistan and India and its steadfast commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond. During his meeting with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Makkah alMukarramah on Friday, he underscored Pakistan’s policy of responsible restraint in the face of Indian aggression, emphasizing that sustainable peace in South Asia is achievable only through dialogue.
The meeting reaffirmed the deeprooted, strategic, and fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended warm Eid greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and commended the Kingdom’s hospitality and service to the pilgrims from around the world who are in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. The two leaders also held detailed discussions on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. They stressed the imperative for the international community to fulfill its moral and legal obligations and reiterated their unwavering support for a just and durable resolution to the Palestinian
question, grounded in the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Both leaders agreed to further elevate this strategic partnership in accordance with the shared vision of the leadership and the aspirations of the brotherly people of the two countries. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening the multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. PM attends luncheon hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as a special guest, attended a luncheon hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Royal Court in Makkah alMukarramah on Friday, according to Radio Pakistan. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia gave a special welcome to the Prime Minister and personally drove the Prime Minister to attend the luncheon. Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud warmly welcomed Shehbaz Sharif at the luncheon and informal talks were held between the two leaders, state broadcaster PTV News reported. The luncheon was attended by important leaders from the Middle East, including members of the Saudi cabinet and senior Saudi civil and military leadership. The Prime Minister’s grand welcome by the Saudi Crown Prince and his participation in the luncheon as a special guest is a reflection of the long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s diplomatic
Pakistan condemns Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, urging accountability of Tel Aviv
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Friday “unequivocally” condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Beirut and southern parts of Lebanon, urging the international community to hold Tel Aviv accountable and take immediate action against the offensive. “The attacks, launched on the eve of Eidul Azha, constitute a blatant violation of international law, the sovereignty of Lebanon, and the ceasefire agreement of November 2024,” according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson on Friday.
According to Al Jazeera and other international news outlets, the attack on Thursday targeting Hezbollah marks the fourth time Israel has bombed Beirut after a ceasefire was signed in November 2024. The Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in a statement after the strikes, voiced “firm condemnation of the Israeli aggression,” calling the attack — carried out on the eve of Eidul Azha — a “flagrant violation of an international accord.” Israel and Hezbollah started trading fire on Oct 8, a day after Hamas attacked communities in southern Israel and sparked the Gaza offensive. Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, says its at-
tacks aim to support Palestinians who are under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. In the statement, the FO spokesperson extended solidarity to Lebanese people during “this difficult time” and highlighted that “the reckless use of force threatens civilian lives, fuels regional instability, and undermines efforts for lasting peace.” The FO noted that the attack constituted a violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon as well as the ceasefire signed between Israel and Hezbollah. “We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations and ceasefire mediators, to take immediate action to hold Israeli occupying forces accountable and prevent further escalation,” the statement read. “Pakistan remains firmly committed to peace, justice, and the principles of international law.” On Thursday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that the Lebanese army had dismantled “more than 500 military positions and arms depots” belonging to Hezbollah in the south of the country. “There can be no security or stability while Israel’s daily violations persist, parts of our land remain occupied, and our prisoners are not freed,” Salam added.
achievements under the leadership of the Prime Minister, state media stated.
PM, Field Marshal perform Umrah, offer prayers for prosperity of Pakistan, Muslim Ummah MAKKAH
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on a two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, performed Umrah on the night of Thursday and Friday along with Army Chief Field Marshal General Asim Munir, offering prayers for the country’s success in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, according to state media on Friday. The premier was accompanied by Army Chief Field Marshal General Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, who also performed the Umrah. The delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a visit from June 5 to 6 at the invitation of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, according to a statement from the Foreign Office. The gates of the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, were specially opened for the delegation, where they offered prayers for the prosperity of Pakistan and the Muslim community worldwide, particularly the Muslims in Gaza and Indian-occupied Kashmir. They also expressed gratitude
for Pakistan’s success against last month’s Indian aggression and recent economic growth. The visit is focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas between both nations. PM Shehbaz is also expected to thank the Saudi leadership for its constructive role in deescalating the recent Pakistan-India conflict. “This visit underscores the deep-rooted, time-tested ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, anchored in shared faith, mutual respect, and strategic partnership,” the FO said. “It reaffirms the leadership’s commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic engagement, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s development priorities,” the statement further added. Prime Minister Sharif’s visit is expected to further solidify Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations and open new avenues for multifaceted collaboration.” Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, from where the premier, along with the Pakistani delegation, left for Makkah to perform Umrah. Earlier, upon arrival in Jeddah, he was received by the Governor of Jeddah, Saud bin Abdullah Jalawi, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed AlMaliki; the Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq and other senior diplomatic officials.
Pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Haj nears end in Saudi Arabia MAKKAH
AGENCIES
Pilgrims were performing the last major ritual of the Haj — the stoning of the devil — on Friday, as Muslims around the globe celebrated the beginning of Eidul Azha. Pakistan will celebrate Eidul Azha tomorrow (Saturday). Starting before daybreak, the more than 1.6 million pilgrims taking part in the Haj threw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, on the outskirts of the holy city of Makkah. Droves of pilgrims had already set out from their camps and accommodations in the sprawling tent city in Mina before dawn, taking advantage of the shade and cool temperature. The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son. “Our experience in Mina was easy and simple. We entered and within five minutes we had completed the stoning of the devil at the ‘Jamarat’,” said 34-year-old Wael Ahmed Abdel Kader, from Egypt, after carrying out the ritual at dawn. Howakita, a pilgrim from Guinea, said the prospect of celebrat-
ing Eid in Makkah filled her with joy. A day earlier, pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat, praying and reciting Quranic verses at the 70-metre rocky rise near Makkah, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave his last sermon. Many climbed the mount despite the searing heat, though numbers had thinned by midday following official warnings for pilgrims to stay inside between 10am and 4pm (12pm and 6pm PKT) This year’s Haj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wideranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims — resulting in noticeably thinner crowds and a heavy secu-
rity presence at holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas. The measures were aimed at preventing a fatal repeat of last year’s Haj that saw 1,301 people die in temperatures that hit 51.8 degrees Celsius. Saudi authorities said a majority of those deaths were among pilgrims who illegally snuck into Makkah and lacked access to accommodation and other services aimed to keep pilgrims safe and protected from the searing desert heat. This Haj season has recorded the lowest number of pilgrims in over three decades, barring the years of Covid restrictions from 2020-2022.
Revised poverty thresholds raise Pakistan’s poverty headcount to almost 45%: World Bank g
METHODOLOGICAL UPDATE BASED ON NEW PPP DATA PUSHES UP EXTREME AND MODERATE POVERTY LINES PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Nearly 45% of Pakistan’s population is now considered poor under revised international standards, according to new poverty benchmarks released by the World Bank. The updated poverty thresholds—measured in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms—raise the lower-middle-income poverty line from $3.65 to $4.20 per person per day, pushing the national poverty rate from 39.8% to 44.7%. The new global methodology also revises the extreme poverty line from $2.15 to $3.00 per person per day. Under this threshold, 16.5% of Pakistan’s population is now classified as living in extreme poverty—more than triple the earlier estimate of 4.9%. “These changes don’t mean poverty in Pakistan has suddenly worsened,” said Christina Wieser, Senior Economist at the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice. “Rather, the international poverty lines have been updated to reflect changes in the cost of living and global consumption patterns.”
The upper-middle-income poverty line has also been revised upward to $8.30 per person per day. Under this threshold, 88.4% of Pakistanis fall below the poverty line— underscoring the country’s significant challenges in improving living standards. The revisions are part of the World Bank’s regular updates to the International Poverty Line (IPL), and are based on the newly released 2021 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) data under the International Comparison Program (ICP). The poverty lines for low-income countries (LIC), lower-middle-income countries (LMIC), and uppermiddle-income countries (UMIC) have been adjusted upward by 28%, 5%, and 11% respectively to account for inflation and shifts in consumption patterns. According to Tobias Haque, the World Bank’s Lead Country Economist for Pakistan, the updated PPPs allow for more accurate cross-country comparisons and reflect improved data quality on national welfare metrics. He stressed that these international poverty lines are intended for global bench-
marking and should not replace Pakistan’s national poverty line for domestic policymaking. “These are tools to allow global comparison. For in-country evaluation of living standards, national poverty lines remain the relevant metric,” Haque said. The World Bank notes that Pakistan is among the countries with the most significant change in reported poverty when transitioning to the new 2021 PPP-based thresholds. This is particularly noticeable in the shift from $2.15 to $3.00 under the LIC-based extreme poverty line, which captures a large number of Pakistani households with consumption levels between those two benchmarks. “The revisions help position Pakistan’s poverty levels in a global context and underscore the importance of continued efforts to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “The new figures reflect updated international thresholds and improved data from other countries, not a deterioration in living standards.” International poverty is measured by cal-
culating the proportion of a country’s population living below the global poverty thresholds, adjusted for local prices using PPP conversion rates. The headcount approach evaluates household consumption (rather than income) to determine whether individuals can afford a minimum standard of living. The updated lines account for: New PPP factors (2021): Based on revised price comparisons across countries. Improved data accuracy: More reliable household surveys and consumption metrics. National poverty line adjustments: Reflecting current definitions and cost-of-living changes within countries. While the update changes the absolute number of people considered poor, it does not affect the trend of poverty over time, which remains consistent with earlier assessments. For instance, the World Bank’s projections for Pakistan from 2019 to 2025 still indicate a marginal rise in poverty, exacerbated by inflation and macroeconomic instability, though now reflected at higher levels under the new thresholds.
It is important to note that even though the World Bank’s updated numbers do not suggest a sudden deterioration in economic conditions, they do indicate that previous assessments may have understated the scale of economic vulnerability in the country. The revision is particularly relevant as Pakistan navigates high inflation, declining real incomes, and a subdued recovery from multiple economic shocks over the past few years. According to the World Bank’s projections, Pakistan’s poverty rate is expected to stand at around 42.4% for the current fiscal year, even before the updated thresholds are fully incorporated into national planning discussions. With the international poverty line now set higher, the urgency for poverty alleviation and social protection programs becomes even more pronounced. The updated poverty metrics will feed into Pakistan’s negotiations with development partners, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank itself, as the country seeks budgetary support and concessional financing linked to poverty-reduction performance.