ISLAMABAD
Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar has said that the government attaches top priority to exploration and production activities in the oil and gas sector to attract foreign investment in the country.
The minister said this while talking to Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki who called on him on Tuesday.
The minister apprised the ambassador of the government’s initiatives in the energy sector, focusing on induction of renewable energy policy to harness local resources for power generation. He also highlighted steps taken by the government in energy infrastructure development across the country.
On his part, the Saudi ambassador lauded Pakistan’s efforts for the success of bilateral projects in the energy sector. He also invited the minister for energy over a three-day Future Minerals Summit, which will begin in Riyadh from January 11 next year.
Separately, the Saudi embassy in Islamabad said on Tuesday that King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) has concluded this year’s winter aid distribution in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces.
KSRelief launched its winter aid project in the first week of November this year to help over 200,000 people in Pakistan. The Saudi agency provides humanitarian and development support to millions of beneficiaries in more than 49 countries. Pakistan is the fifth largest recipient of assistance from KSRelief and has received more than $120 million in aid since 2005.
In collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Balochistan government, KSRelief distributed 29,000 winter kits among poor and deserving people in Balochistan. “10,000 winter kits were distributed in the earthquake-affected area Harnai [in Balochistan],” the Saudi Embassy said in a statement.
“A total of 2,100 kits were distributed to North Waziristan IDPs [Internally Displaced Persons] at the Bakakhail TDP [Temporarily Displaced Persons] Camp.” These winter kits included quilts, shawls, socks, caps, mufflers and warmers for men, women and children. The assistance is part of the centre’s 2021 winter aid project to help needy people in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, the project benefited around 203,000 individuals this year, according to the Saudi Embassy. These winter kits were distributed in Balochistan’s Quetta, Ziarat, Pashin, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Kalat, Mastung, Harnai, Loralai and Chagai, and Bakakhail in KP.
