Shehbaz, MBS hold one-on-one meeting, resolve to boost ties

MAKKAH/ISLAMABAD: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) Sunday especially invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation to an Iftar at Al-Safa Palace here. Shehbaz landed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday on a three-day visit from April 6 to 8.

The premier performed Umrah soon after arriving in Makkah.

Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Bin Saeed Al-Malkiy and high-level officials received the prime minister at the Makkah railway station.

“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosts an Iftar at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Crown Prince of Bahrain, where they all broke their fast together,” reported Saudi Gazette.

A statement issued by the PM Office said that the crown prince had extended a special invitation to PM Shehbaz-led delegation for Iftar.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and members of the federal cabinet were also invited to the Iftar, as per the statement.

Shehbaz is accompanied by federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abdul Aleem Khan, Attaullah Tarar and Ahad Khan Cheema. After the Iftar, a one-on-one meeting was held between the prime minister and MBS.

Shehbaz conveyed prayers and best wishes for the health and well-being of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation by the Saudi authorities.

Both the leaders appreciated the upward trajectory of longstanding fraternal relations. The two leaders reaffirmed common resolve to further strengthen the bilateral ties. A day earlier, the premier also offered Isha prayers and nawafil at Masjid-e-Nabwi along with Maryam Nawaz and paid respects at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).

During the premier’s visit, multiple development projects would be finalised, whereas bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including agriculture, continues between the two countries, said the sources.

They said Saudi Arabia was expected to invest $1 billion in the Reko Diq project.

Pakistan and KSA have longstanding fraternal relations rooted in religious and cultural affinity.

The people of Pakistan have the deepest respect and regard for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, read the Foreign Office statement.

“The leadership of both countries is committed to advancing the fraternal ties and mutually rewarding economic and investment relations.”

Meanwhile, the prime minister has constituted a high-level committee to review climate change governance and mechanisms to access climate funds and nominated Coordinator to the PM on Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam and Executive Director Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Dr Abid Sulehri as its members along with other senior members.

Romina has issued a detailed notification explaining the context, mandate, terms of reference (TORs) and list of the committee members.

The committee will be chaired by the deputy chairman Planning Commission comprising government officials, parliamentarians, representatives from the civil society and environment NGOs, private sector, research institutes and expert/advisors with knowledge on specific topics.

The members are Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan (chair), Coordinator to the PM on Climate Change Romina Khursheed Alam, Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, MNA Bilal Kiyani, Executive Director SDPI Dr Abid Sulehri, Kashmala Kakakhel, Rizwan Mehboob, Ali Tauqir Sheikh, Ahsan Kamran, Nadia Rehman, Member CC PC, secretary MoCC&EC (Secretary of the Committee), secretary Ministry of Commerce, secretary MoPDSI and secretary Ministry of EA and additional secretary (EF) Ministry of Finance.

The committee will suggest approach that involves mainstreaming climate considerations across all government organizations and operations, as well as integrating them into the development agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It includes evaluating the effectiveness of existing and proposed institutional mechanisms such as the National Climate Change Council, SIFC, proposed Climate Change Authority, Climate Change Fund, National Disaster Risk Management Fund and coordination with key ministries.

Additionally, there is a need to review institutional mechanisms and policies to mobilize climate finance, including climate funds and innovative financial instruments.

The appraisal of institutional mechanisms and policies to mobilize carbon finance is also crucial. Furthermore, assessing institutional mechanisms and policies to attract private capital from various sources such as development finance institutions (DFIs), pension funds, insurance companies, commercial banks, venture capital and private sector firms is essential.

Examining institutional mechanisms and policies to enhance engagement with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to reduce the cost of finance and leverage private sector investment through grants, guarantees and concessional climate funds will also be recommended by the committee.

The committee will make recommendations to strengthen climate governance, access climate and carbon finance and mobilize the private sector to drive decarbonization of industry, integrate into green value chains and boost exports in alignment with evolving international regulatory mechanisms such as carbon border adjustments.

In a message on the World Health Day observed on Sunday, Shehbaz renewed the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to provide and ensure health facilities for the entire population.

“Towards our destination of a healthier nation, I once again reiterate the commitment to transform Pakistan’s healthcare sector at all levels that will ensure that each and every Pakistani has access to quality healthcare,” the prime minister said.

In order to ensure health for all and as promised to the nation in the PMLN manifesto, the prime minister said their focus would remain on improving primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, medical education, preventive healthcare and improved governance.

“We will partner and encourage provincial governments to expand and upgrade health facilities, launch mobile health clinics for enhanced access, re-energize immunization and improve mental health services,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying.

The prime minister said that the establishment and operationalization of Medical City, establishment of Cancer Care Hospital and Pakistan Kidney & Liver Institute facilities in each province remained their key priority.

“We take pride in having launched the Health Card during PMLN’s 2013-18 tenure. We remain committed to universal health coverage and universal health insurance for our population, particularly providing free-of-cost healthcare services to low and middle-income families,” he added.

On the World Health Day, the prime minister also applauded the services of health professionals, paramedical staff, nurses and other health workers who selflessly worked day and night to provide health services to the nation.

Meanwhile, the prime minister Sunday expressed grief over the death of former Punjab chief secretary and bureaucrat Javed Mehmood and prayed for elevation of ranks of the deceased in Jannah and condoled with the bereaved family.