Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is presently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, on Sunday met with Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) President Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser on the sidelines of the special session of the World Economic Forum (WEF), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Both discussed the progress made on several ongoing projects of the bank in Pakistan besides exchanging views on further increasing cooperation between the two by exploring new opportunities.  

The prime minister, on the occasion, praised the IsDB for assisting Pakistan in the rehabilitation of flood-affected people.

He also thanked Jasser for investing $1 billion in Pakistan when last time he was the prime minister.   

Both agreed on the early completion of the bank’s projects in Pakistan.

PM Shehbaz, on the occasion, said that Pakistan was able to meet its development targets courtesy of its partnership with the IsDB.

He told Jasser that the government was trying to allay all concerns of the foreign investors. “The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is fully active in the country,” the prime minister informed.

IsDB president, on the occasion, said that Pakistan was the founding member of the bank. “The Almighty Allah has blessed Pakistan with abundant natural resources,” he said, and added that the world could benefit from the country’s manpower.

Pakistan making efforts for complete elimination of polio virus, says PM Shehbaz

Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the government of Pakistan was making efforts to completely eliminate the polio virus from the country.

Participating in a debate on ‘Discrimination in the Health Sector’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the prime minister said Pakistan’s share in the carbon emissions was negligible. “The phenomenon of climate change has changed the landscape,” he said. 

He was of the view that the world’s biggest issue was inequality.

PM Shehbaz told the gathering that last time when he was the Punjab chief minister, he extended the facilities for the treatment of Hepatitis patients to every nook and corner of the province. “I built a hospital for kidney patients in Lahore,” he informed.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had Saturday arrived in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to participate in a special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ‘Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development’, being held from April 28-29.

Deputy Governor of the Riyadh region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Bin Abdul Aziz, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the embassy staff received the prime minister and his delegation at the Riyadh Royal Airport.

The prime minister was invited to attend the WEF meeting by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab.

“The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The Prime Minister and the Ministers will participate in WEF discussions on issues related to trade and investment measures, new investment frameworks, restructuring of supply chains, sustainable growth, and the energy landscape,” Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.

The high-level participation in the Forum will afford an important opportunity to present Pakistan’s priorities specifically in global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalizing regional collaboration and the need for striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption.

On the margins of the main event, the prime minister and his delegation will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, including the Saudi leadership, heads of international organizations, and other prominent figures participating in the event.

About 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia will participate in the Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development, WEF said in a press statement.

The meeting, April 28–29, will focus on new pathways to reinvigorate growth globally amid the challenges posed by an increasingly fragmented geopolitical and economic environment.

Reporter: Awais Kiani