Day: October 19, 2022

ISLAMABAD: In a major development in 25-year-old cases against PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday decided to take back appeals against the acquittal of the former president in the four references.

The NAB officials have moved an application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking withdrawal of Bureau’s appeals against the acquittal of Asif Zardari. The NAB, in its application, prayed to the court that further prosecution of the appeals will be a useless exercise. The available documentary evidence is not in accordance with the legal evidence, it added.

To make their latest move further formidable, the NAB further prayed that they hardly have on record even the photocopies of the documents against Asif Zardari. Asif Zardari had been acquitted in four reference namely Ursus Tractors, ARY Gold, Polo Ground and SSG Cotecna. The NAB had challenged the PPP Co-Chairperson’s acquittal in 2015.

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki Wednesday called on Federal Minister for Power Division Engr. Khurram Dastagir.

The minister appreciated the deep and long standing friendly relations between both the countries, said a press release. The present government’s solar initiative is a huge opportunity for Saudi investment, the Saudi companies are welcomed in this regard, remarked the minister.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan had immense potential and must be rebranded on globally. The business community of Pakistan needs to explore the Saudi market. The Saudi government is committed to enhancing cooperation in energy sector and values its partnership with Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have agreed to continue mutual cooperation in film and drama related fields on fast track basis, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

The decision was made in the meeting between Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki in Islamabad. During the meeting, both the dignitaries agreed to constitute a committee comprising representatives from the two countries, to implement the Pak-Saudi joint ventures in the fields of film and drama making.

The long-standing bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in various fields were also discussed in the meeting. It was decided to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhancing mutual cooperation. Marriyum Aurangzeb congratulated the Saudi ambassador on the appointment of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom.

The government and the people of Pakistan had immense respect for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi leadership, she said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, she said, had the vision of further strengthening trade and business-to-business ties with the KSA.

The minister also appreciated the important role played by the Saudi ambassador in the relief activities and his personal visit to the flood affected areas of Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, the Saudi ambassador said a large number of Pakistanis were playing an important role in the development of Saudi Arabia. He said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and property caused by the recent rains and floods in Pakistan, and assured to continue providing all possible assistance to the flood victims.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was set to enter the next business-to-business (B2B) mode after the productive government-level phase.

Chairing a review meeting on CPEC, the prime minister said the government had rejuvenated the multi-billion dollar project that faced hiatus during the tenure of the previous government. The meeting focused on infrastructure projects particularly Main Line-1 (ML-1), Karachi Circular Railway, and Karakoram Highway. The project related to the production of 10,000-megawatt electricity with solar and wind sources also came under discussion.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was about to witness an industrial boom with the restoration of CPEC projects. He welcomed the interest of Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan’s solar projects. The prime minister said the ML-1 rail project would play an important role in the strengthening of the national economy by connecting the country’s ports with China and Central Asia. He termed the ML-1 project as the ‘backbone’ of the country with high prospects of progress.

The meeting was attended by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, federal ministers including Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Salik Hussain, Syed Naveed Qamar, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Syed Murtaza Mehmood and Tariq Bashir Cheema, Advisers to PM Ahad Cheema, State Minister for Petroleum Dr Musaddik Malik, Special Assistants including Tariq Fatemi, Zafaruddin Mehmood, Jahanzeb Khan, Syed Fahad Hussain, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, Badar Shehbaz and senior officials. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah joined the meeting through video link.