Pakistan okays increase in gas prices for industries

KARACHI: A senior Pakistani naval official said on Tuesday two Saudi warships, HMS Jazan and HMS Hail, will participate in the ninth edition of his country’s naval exercise, AMAN-25, which is scheduled to be held from February 7 to 11.
The AMAN exercise, held every two years in the North Arabian Sea, is a multinational naval drill organized by the Pakistan Navy to enhance regional maritime security and interoperability among allied forces. The exercise was first held in 2007 and has since attracted participants from across the world.
According to official information, AMAN-2025 will witness the participation of nearly 60 countries and will be conducted in two phases. The harbor phase will take place from February 7 to 9, while the sea phase, running from February 10 to 11, will include search and rescue operations, live weapon firings and an international fleet review.
Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, Commander of the Pakistani Fleet, highlighted his country’s strong maritime ties with Saudi Arabia during a news conference.
“Saudi Arabia is a brotherly country,” he said, as he mentioned the participation of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in the exercise while pointing out that Pakistan also enjoyed close relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Pakistan’s relations with both these countries are already strong, but there is also a very close navy-to-navy collaboration with them,” he continued. “We have conducted a number of exercises with them, and both countries will also be actively participating in this exercise.”

Calling the participation from Saudi Arabia “very encouraging,” the naval official said in addition to the two Saudi ships, the Kingdom’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Underwater Demolition (UWD) teams would also participate.
“The UAE has one ship participating as well, and their SOF and UWD teams are also participating,” he added.
This year’s exercise is expected to include a wide range of maritime professionals, with over 200 observers from around the world in attendance.
The Pakistani rear admiral noted the role of the AMAN Dialogue, which is scheduled to take place alongside the exercise. He informed it will bring together naval chiefs, coast guards and defense forces from participating nations.
The forum will allow military leaders to exchange insights and discuss strategies for addressing emerging maritime challenges.
“More than just a military drill, AMAN embodies Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to fostering regional stability, ensuring safe and secure seas and countering nontraditional and asymmetric threats,” he maintained.
“Above all, it serves as a vital platform for strengthening interoperability, information sharing and mutual understanding among like-minded regional and extra-regional navies, thus reinforcing the belief that maritime security is a shared responsibility,” he added.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) had approved a $40 million grant to build the King Salman Hospital in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The announcement comes a day after Pakistan signed an agreement with SFD to defer by one year a $1.2 billion payment on the country’s oil imports.
SFD has supported more than 40 projects and programs valued at approximately $1.4 billion to finance energy, water, transportation and infrastructure projects in Pakistan since the Fund’s establishment in 1975.
“There are other SFD projects like the King Salman Hospital with an investment of $40 million” Sharif said while addressing a federal cabinet meeting in which he thanked Saudi authorities for approving the $1.2 billion oil facility. “These are grants and the hospital will be fully built with this in Hazara [district].”
The Saudi facility to defer oil payments can help Islamabad boost its foreign reserves ahead of the first review of a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, due in March. The agreement comes as Pakistan continues to navigate a tricky economic recovery path and implement tough conditions attached to the IMF loan program.
“Our brother Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a delegation yesterday [Feb. 4] and our oil facility which was for 10 months in 2023 ended in December 2023,” Sharif added. “Now, it has been renewed and they have provided us with $1.2 billion annually for our oil facility.”
On Monday, Pakistan also finalized a loan agreement for a Gravity Flow Water Supply Scheme in the Mansehra district of KP under which the SFD will provide $41 million to enhance access to clean drinking water for at least 150,000 people, according to Sharif’s office.
The SFD has also proposed a partnership with the Pakistan government to offer training programs for young Pakistanis and impart “modern and relevant” skills to help them meet labor market demands in Saudi Arabia.
Pakistanis constitute one of the largest migrant communities in Saudi Arabia with an estimated 2.64 million working there as of 2023. While 97 percent of them are blue-collar workers, there is a growing demand for skilled labor in the Kingdom as it seeks to modernize its economy under the Vision 2030 scheme.