News

Joint Statement for the visit of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Published

5 years ago

May 8, 2021

On the kind invitation, extended by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Imran Khan paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 7-9 May 2021, corresponding to 25-27 Ramadan 1442/AH. His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, warmly welcomed the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

2.The two leaders reaffirmed the historical and fraternal ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, reviewed all facets of bilateral cooperation and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen relations of the two brotherly countries in all fields, and agreed to intensify contacts and cooperation between government officials and the private sector in the two countries with the aim of promoting bilateral relations to the benefit of both countries.

3.His Excellency Prime Minister Imran Khan praised the leadership role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in promoting Islamic unity, and the positive role of the Kingdom in resolving the issues facing the Islamic world, as well as its endeavours for regional and international peace and security.

4.The Prime Minister recalled his visits to the Kingdom in 2018 and 2019, as well as the historic visit of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence to Pakistan in February 2019, during which the two leaders jointly announced the launch of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council, to further enhance bilateral cooperation based on mutual trust, benefits and common interests of the two countries. The Crown Prince assured the Prime Minister of the Kingdom’s continued support to Prime Minister’s vision to transform Pakistan into a modern developed and welfare state.

5.The two sides discussed ways to strengthen and enhance economic and trade relations by exploring areas of investment and opportunities available in light of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision and Pakistan’s development priorities emanating from a shift from geo-politics to geo-economics. The discussions also focused on increasing cooperation in other fields, including energy, science, technology, agriculture and culture. Both sides expressed satisfaction at existing cooperation in bilateral military and security relations, and agreed to further augment collaboration and cooperation to achieve mutually agreed goals.

6.The two leaders also discussed issues pertaining to the Islamic world. They stressed the need for concerted efforts by the Muslim countries to confront extremism and violence, reject sectarianism, and strive to achieve international peace and security. They also stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to combat terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations. They reaffirmed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group.

ALSO READ : Who will be crowned as next pm of Pakistan today?

7.In the constructive spirit of discussions, the two sides reaffirmed their full support for all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially, their right to self determination and establishment of their independent state with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions. They also expressed their support for political solutions in Syria and Libya, as well as the efforts of the United Nations and its envoys in this regard.

8.The two sides also stressed the importance of supporting efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Yemen based on the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue, and the relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution (2216). They condemned the attacks of terrorist groups and militias, including Houthi militias, by ballistic missiles and drones on the territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against vital installations and civilian objects. They expressed serious concern at the threats posed to the security of oil exports and the stability of energy supplies, which was vital for the progress and development of the region and its peoples. The Prime Minister praised the role of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the resolution of crisis in Yemen which aims at achieving peace and security in Yemen which will result in prosperity and development of the region and its people.

9.Discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the Crown Prince acknowledged Pakistan’s facilitative role in the Afghan peace process. The two sides, underlining that an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement is the only way forward, urged the Afghan parties to realize the historic opportunity for achieving a political settlement in Afghanistan. The two leaders agreed to continue mutual consultations on the Afghan peace process.

10.Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to continue supporting each other at multilateral fora. They agreed to further deepen coordination and cooperation to safeguard mutual interests and uphold the principles of fairness and justice. The two sides also stressed the importance of the commitment by all States to the United Nations Charter, the principles and decisions of international legitimacy, as well as adherence to the principles of good neighbourly relations, respect for the unity and sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and the endeavour to resolve disputes by peaceful means.

11.His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, welcomed the recent understanding reached between the military authorities of Pakistan and India regarding ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC), which is based on a 2003 understanding between Pakistan and India. The two sides emphasized the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region.

ALSO READ : Democracy: A colonial hangover

12.The Prime Minister congratulated the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for successfully organizing and holding the G20 summit meetings and the positive decisions that resulted from it in economic, developmental, environmental, health, energy and other fields.

13.Acknowledging the leading role of the Kingdom in addressing international issues, in particular the challenge posed by climate change, the Prime Minister welcomed “the Saudi Green and Middle East Green Initiatives” launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and hoped that the initiatives will have a positive impact on the region, its inhabitants and beyond. The Crown Prince appreciated the Prime Minister’s “Clean and Green Pakistan” initiative, as well as the successful “10 Billion Tree Tsunami” initiative.

14.The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the Kingdom and its leadership in serving the Two Holy Mosques, their pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors, especially in organizing the Hajj season for the past year 1441 AH, despite the challenges posed by the Corona pandemic.

15.In order to further strengthen and diversify bilateral relations, the following agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were signed; i. Agreement on Establishment of Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC); ii. MoU in Combating Illicit Traffic in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Presursor Chemicals; iii. Framework MoU between SFD and Islamic Republic of Pakistan for financing projects in Energy, Hydropower Generation, Infrastructure, Transport & Communication and Water Resource Development; iiii. Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Combating Crimes; and v. Agreement on Transfer of Convicted Prisoners.

16.The Prime Minister expressed gratitude and offered his best wishes to His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince warmly reciprocated with best wishes for the health and wellbeing of the Prime Minister, and prayers for the progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Post Views: 882

Discover more from The Monitor

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Related Topics:joint statement Pakistan PM Saudi Arabi visit

Up Next

PAKISTAN STRONGLY CONDEMNS ATTACKS AT A SCHOOL IN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

Don't Miss

Karachi-based digital bookkeeping startup, CreditBook raises $1.5 million in seed funding

Click to comment

Travel

Cyprus Tourism Revenue Plunges 33.8% in March as Israeli Arrivals Dry Up

Published

1 week ago

June 21, 2026

Abdul Rahman

Cyprus’s tourism sector took a sharp hit in March 2026, with revenues falling 33.8% year-on-year, as a steep decline in arrivals from Israel — historically one of the island’s most important source markets — drained a key pillar of the Mediterranean destination’s visitor economy.

The drop highlights how exposed smaller, single-market-dependent destinations remain to geopolitical disruption far beyond their own borders. Israel has long been one of Cyprus’s top inbound markets, drawn by short flight times and the island’s positioning as a stable, accessible Mediterranean getaway. As regional tensions in the Middle East intensified through late 2025 and into 2026, that flow of travelers slowed dramatically.

Table of Contents

A Regional Pattern

Cyprus’s experience is not isolated. Across the wider Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, destinations with strong ties to Israeli outbound travel or Middle East transit routes have reported similar disruptions. UN Tourism survey data found that 61% of tourism professionals globally said the broader conflict was reducing inbound tourism to their markets, while a smaller share reported gains as travelers redirected trips elsewhere.

For Cyprus specifically, the scale of the March revenue decline suggests the Israeli market shortfall was not easily offset by other source markets, at least in the short term. Tourism officials on the island are likely watching closely to see whether the trend persists into the peak summer season or begins to stabilize as regional conditions evolve.

Economic Stakes

Tourism remains one of Cyprus’s most important economic sectors, and a sustained pullback in revenue carries implications well beyond hotels and resorts — touching aviation, retail, hospitality employment, and government tax receipts tied to the visitor economy. With UN Tourism already trimming its global 2026 growth forecast by 1 to 2 percentage points due to Middle East-related disruption, Cyprus’s March numbers offer a concrete, localized illustration of how that broader headwind is playing out on the ground.

Post Views: 527

Discover more from The Monitor

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

ALSO READ : The Role of Arab League, OIC, and UN in the Gaza Crisis for Peace

Analysis

Student Loan Defaults Surge Again as Pandemic-Era Protections Fade Into Memory

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2026

Abdul Rahman

Federal student loan defaults are climbing sharply once more, with new data showing millions of borrowers slipping into default status as the last remnants of pandemic-era protections disappear. The numbers paint a troubling picture for household finances at a moment when many Americans are already grappling with elevated borrowing costs.

Table of Contents

The Numbers Behind the Surge

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, roughly 2.6 million additional federal student loan borrowers had their loans transferred to the Department of Education’s Default Resolution Group during the first quarter of 2026 alone. That follows roughly 1 million defaults recorded in late 2025, suggesting the pace of new defaults is accelerating rather than leveling off.

A Liberty Street Economics analysis tied to the data found that the average newly defaulted borrower is nearly 39 years old — notably not a young, recent graduate, but someone further along in their career. Many of these borrowers were current on their loans before the pandemic-era payment pause began back in 2020, underscoring how disruptive the return to normal repayment has been even for previously reliable borrowers.

The Credit Score Hit

The financial damage extends well beyond the loans themselves. Borrowers who default see their credit scores drop by an average of 91 points — a steep decline that can affect everything from their ability to rent an apartment to the interest rates they’re offered on car loans, credit cards, and mortgages going forward.

ALSO READ : The Best, Worst, and Most Memorable Moments of the 2026 Golden Globes

Collections Are Paused — For Now

There is a temporary reprieve: collections on defaulted federal student loans are currently paused. But that pause is not guaranteed to last. Once collections resume, affected borrowers could face wage garnishment, seizure of tax refunds, and offsets against federal benefits — consequences that could compound an already difficult financial position for millions of households.

A Broader Affordability Squeeze

The default wave is unfolding alongside other affordability pressures. Mortgage rates have moved sharply higher in recent weeks, with the 30-year fixed rate climbing to 6.92% for the week ending May 22, up from 6.71% just two weeks earlier. That increase has pushed a growing share of buyers toward adjustable-rate mortgages, which carry lower introductory rates but reset based on future market conditions — a trade-off that could create fresh financial strain if rates remain elevated.

What It Means for Borrowers

For the millions of borrowers now in default, the message from financial experts is consistent: defaulting on a federal student loan carries serious, long-lasting consequences, and the current pause on collections should be treated as a window to seek resolution options rather than a reason for complacency.

Post Views: 527

Discover more from The Monitor

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Analysis

WHO Escalates Ebola Threat Level to “Very High” After Confirmed Cases in DRC Reach 676

Published

3 weeks ago

June 11, 2026

Abdul Rahman

KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially elevated its national risk assessment for the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from “high” to “very high.” The decision follows a surge in laboratory-confirmed infections, which have now climbed to 676.

The current outbreak is predominantly impacting the country’s eastern territories. The map below underscores the massive geographical footprint of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting its extensive shared borders with nations like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zambia—transit lines that are now the primary focus of regional containment efforts.

Health officials warn that the combination of regional mobility, mining-driven migration, and localized conflict has significantly complicated efforts to trace contacts and isolate active cases.

Table of Contents

Regional Neighbors Enforce Border Controls

Because of the porous nature of the DRC’s frontiers, surrounding nations have shifted into high alert:

Uganda: Health authorities have activated intensive screening protocols along key transit corridors, following previous cross-border transmission cases.
Rwanda and Burundi: Security and medical personnel have reinforced border checkpoints with digital temperature scanners and isolation zones.

“A coordinated regional response is critical. High population mobility across these borders means an outbreak in one area poses an immediate health risk to neighboring states.” — Africa CDC and WHO Joint Directive

Global Vigilance: India Implements Traveler Monitoring

The international community is taking swift, preemptive action to prevent global transmission. The Union Health Ministry of India announced it has initiated strict monitoring measures at international airports and entry ports.