Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Monday signed an agreement for deferred payment for oil import from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan worth $1.2 billion for one year.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad witnessed the signing of agreement.
The prime minister welcomed the signing of Oil Import Financing Facility according to which Pakistan will receive the oil on deferred payment.
This project will strengthen Pakistan’s economic resilience by securing a stable supply of petroleum products while reducing immediate fiscal burdens.
The other agreement pertained to a concessional loan agreement for the construction of a gravity-flow water scheme at Mansehra amounting to $41 million.SFD will provide an amount of US$ 41 million for the Gravity Flow Water Supply Scheme at Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which shall enhance access to clean drinking water for 150,000 local people of Mansehra (and will be sufficient to meet the demand by 2040 by providing water to 201,249 people) improving overall public health and quality of life.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the delegation of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), led by Sultan Bin Abdul Rehman Al Marshad, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Economic Affairs Division Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musaddiq Malik and SAPM Tariq Fatemi alongwith senior officials of the Government of Pakistan attended the meeting. Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki was part of the four member Saudi delegation.
The CEO, SFD thanked the Prime Minister and Government of Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Saudi delegation.
The CEO, SFD shared updates with the prime minister about the ongoing projects including Mohmand Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, Golan Gol Hydropower Project, Malakand Regional Development Project, and other projects funded through Saudi grants.
The prime minister, while appreciating the support of the SFD, highlighted the need to expedite the processing of the new projects, shared with SFD, in the field of green energy and infrastructure, which once implemented would go a long way in the economic revival of the country, besides serving the needs of the local communities.
The CEO, SFD assured early processing of the shared projects and also reiterated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Royal Family, would extend all possible assistance and continued support to Pakistan.
The prime minister thanked the CEO and members of the delegation and conveyed his best wishes to all the members of the Royal Family, especially Khadim-e-Harmain Sharifain King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
