ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (APP):Saudi Arabia has shown interest in investing in Pakistan’s M-10 Motorway project, as Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan held a high-level meeting with Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistics Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser on the sidelines of the OIC Conference in Istanbul.
The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in Transport, Maritime Affairs and regional connectivity, said a press release issued on Saturday.
During the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan formally invited the Saudi Government to invest in the M-10 Motorway, featuring a new alignment from Karachi Port to Hyderabad. He emphasized that Pakistan is keen on fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with Saudi Arabia to modernize its transport sector.
“Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share deep-rooted brotherly and religious ties, supported by strong economic and trade trends,” he stated. He added that Pakistan aims to expand its land links and trade corridors to become a regional hub. He also highlighted the potential for massive investment in Pakistan’s maritime sector.
Saudi Minister Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser expressed keen interest in modernizing Pakistan’s Communications Sector. He noted that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in increasing flight operations to Pakistan and emphasized that digitalization and road surveillance are critical requirements of the modern era.
Both ministers discussed the ongoing progress in the Saudi Communication Sector and explored ways to promote cooperation among OIC member states to strengthen regional trade and connectivity.
Moreover, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan was also called upon by the Director General of SESRIC, Ms. Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, a former Turkish Minister for Family and Social Services.
The meeting focused on expanding cooperation in agriculture, Islamic banking and capacity building among OIC countries. Furthermore, it was decided to initiate joint research programs and conduct specialized training workshops to foster professional expertise and socio-economic development between among OIC countries.