Saudi Envoy calls on PM, extends invitation for Middle East Green Initiative summit

Islamabad: The Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday and invited him to participate in the Middle East Green Initiative scheduled for October this year.

“The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today,” read the statement released.

“The Saudi Ambassador presented a formal invitation to the Prime Minister, extended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for participation in a Summit focusing on the ‘Middle East Green Initiative’ to be hosted by the Kingdom in October 2021,” it added.

It may be recalled, the communique added, that the initiatives of the Saudi Crown Prince, announced earlier this year, align closely with the Prime Minister’s climate change initiatives – ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ and ’10 Billion Tree Tsunami’.

“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are also collaborating closely to develop synergies in their climate-change related strategies,” the statement said.

The statement further said that the invitation was an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s leading role in combating climate change.”

In May, PM Imran appreciated various landmark initiatives taken by the visionary leadership of Saudi Arabia. One that requires a special mention was the ‘Saudi Green Initiative’ and ‘Green Middle East Initiative’, he added.

The prime minister further said that the threat that climate change posed to this planet and our region was real and it was high time for action.

“Pakistan has already initiated Clean and Green Pakistan and Ten Billion Tree Tsunami,” the PM said. “We believe that our priorities and goals in this regard are aligned and we can therefore learn a lot by sharing experiences. Pakistan will extend every possible support toward the success of the Green Initiative.”

All the major Chambers of Commerce of the country has expressed satisfaction over the government’s pro-business policies and the steps taken for ease of doing business (EoDB).

The satisfaction was expressed at a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Presidents of all the main Chambers of Commerce in Islamabad.

The government and the business community also agreed to devise a strategy with mutual consultation to increase tax revenue.

Emphasizing industrial development for economic progress of the country, the Prime Minister said the government is providing incentives to industries for enhancing exports.

Imran Khan said reforms are underway to improve tax system, and consultation with all stakeholders will accelerate this process. The Prime Minister directed the Federal Ministers to remain in contact with all stakeholders and hold regular meetings with them to listen to their problems and proposals. He said after providing facilities to industrialists and the business community, the government is now focused to resolve issues through mutual consultations.

The participants of the meeting appreciated the Prime Minister and his economic team for attaining four percent GDP growth despite Covid-19, fifteen percent increase in large scale manufacturing, incentives for export industry and removal of hurdles, incentives for small and medium enterprises by the State Bank of Pakistan, and providing the business community opportunity to benefit from trade potential of Uzbekistan.

They also lauded the government’s initiative to directly listen to the proposals of the business community for the first time and also pointed out hurdles in the business for a gulf between the government and the business community in the past.