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Pakistani lady singer, Aima Baig's Song

Ishq Aatish hai (Love is fire)



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Pakistan PM House to be converted into educational institution

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has decided to convert the palatial PM House into an educational institution, Minister for National History and Literary Heritage Division Shafqat Mehmood said Thursday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a briefing on reuse of heritage buildings, at the Prime Minister’s Office here on Thursday. The minister briefed the PM about the progress made so far on the proposed reuse plan of heritage buildings.

Later, briefing the media on the decisions taken by the government, he said following the 100-Day agenda of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the government is transforming Governor House-Murree into a Trust Complex as well as Punjab House and Governor House-Rawalpindi into educational institutions respectively.

The Governor House in Lahore will be turned into a museum and art gallery, it's park will be open for public, he added. Hall located on 90 Shahrah will be made convention centre and the Chamba House will operate as Governor Office.

Mehmood also informed about considerations regarding turning the Governor House in Karachi into a museum.

“We will consult the Sindh government on the matter,” he said.

Talking about the Governor Houses in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mehmood said, they will be turned into museums, whereas the Governor House in Nathia Gali will be made into a state-of-art resort.

Decisions related to other government offices will be taken later, he added.

In his maiden speech to the nation on August 19, PM Khan had said that there were 524 persons to serve the prime minister at the 1100-Kanal PM House, coupled with 80 cars, including 33 bulletproof ones having price of Rs 50 million each, besides helicopters and an aeroplane.

He also mentioned the huge and luxurious state buildings like governor houses, CM houses, rest houses, residences of secretaries, commissioners, DCs etc.

“At one hand the nation was burdened with debt and on the other, we have the elite. This system was created by the British during the colonial era to rule the masses, but even after independence the same practice was being followed,” Imran Khan remarked.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/368052-pakistan-pm-house-to-be-converted-into-educational-institution

   

Great! There is usually a strong sense of regret when you tear down historic buildings, it's wonderful to hear Pakistan will keep many of them.

   

Media is very unforgiving to Khan. He is trying his level best to remove injustice but facing unusual criticism from media. I think that jerk sharif has also made some investments in media houses.

But then I remember sayings of Khan and get happy again



By the way, I also like these British era and other historical buildings. It's part of our history and should be preserved.

   

What Mecca and Medina is to Muslims, in the same way, Pakistan is to Sikh Punjabis

Pakistanis also do like Sikhs...Sikhs are very honest and brave people...Some say, remove Sikhs from Indian army and India is fucked...Sikhs also don't have such animosity with Muslims/Pakistan as Hindus have.

I think Sikhs feel that Muslims got their Pakistan, Hindus got their India while Sikhs left behind due to absence of leadership and got screwed afterwards.

Sikhs love their Punjab....Pakistani Muslim Punjabis know it and respect their counterparts across the border who speak same language but have different religion. Actually, when Subcontinent was divided into two, namely Pakistan and India, Punjab province saw very bad fight and big scale migration. It also got divided into Pakistani Punjab and Indian Punjab. The holy place of Indian Sikhs now lies in Pakistani Punjab. Pakistanis try their best to accommodate Indian Sikh Punjabis.

Sikh Pilgrimage to Pakistan

"Pilgrimage is not uncommon to most major religions of the world. The Sikhs, in their thousands, visit Pakistan each year to celebrate the birth anniversary of their founder, Guru Nanak, at Nankana Sahib, his birthplace.[5] This illustrated guide introduces most of the Sikh shrines in Pakistan connected with the founding Guru.[6] It is hoped that it will serve as an effective guide to assist and encourage prospective pilgrims to visit these shrines."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh_Pilgrimage_to_Pakistan


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Nankana Sahib

Nankana Sahib (Punjabi and Urdu: ننكانہ صاحِب‬‎) is a city and capital of Nankana Sahib District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak, who was born in the city and first began preaching here. Today it is a city of high historic and religious value and a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs from all over the world.[1][2] It is located about 80 km (50 mi) west of Lahore and about 75 km (47 mi) east of Faisalabad.[3] The city has a population of approximately 70,000.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nankana_Sahib


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Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician and Sikh Punjabi, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is also a great friend of Imran Khan, Pakistani cricketer turned Prime Minister, on Friday welcomed Pakistan's decision to open the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims in November, according to Geo News report

I have "no words to thank" Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former cricketer said, according to NDTV.

"They [Pakistan] are ready to open the corridor of Kartarpur Sahib on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Ji. There can be no bigger happiness than this for the people of Punjab," Sidhu said. The former cricketer, who recently visited Pakistan to attend PM Imran's oath-taking ceremony, also urged the Indian government to reciprocate to Pakistan's gesture.

"I plead to the Indian prime minister and the External Affairs Ministry that if they have made an effort, you should also make an effort," he said.

This "is not the time for religion-based politics", Sidhu asserted. "This is the message from Pakistan to the whole world. Don't think that anyone can oppose this noble gesture," he added.

Earlier today, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced Pakistan will soon open the Kartar Singh border for Sikh pilgrims and allow them to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without having to obtain a visa.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/365630-kartarpur-border-opening-no-words-to-thank-imran-sidhu

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Sikh community welcomes Pakistan’s decision to open Kartarpur border

Navjot Singh Sidhu asks Sushma Swaraj to make 'positive move' on Kartarpur gurdwara corridor

by Muhammad Irfan | Published on September 10, 2018 (Edited September 10, 2018)

LAHORE – The Sikh community in Pakistan, India and Europe has warmly welcomed Pakistan government’s decision to open the Kartarpur border to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

Administrator Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur-Shakargarh, Giyani Gobind Singh told the visiting Sialkot-based journalists that the early opening of Pak-India border was on the cards.

He said that visa-free entry of the Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib would be a great facility for the Sikh pilgrims.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that his country will soon open the Kartarpur border crossing with India for Sikh pilgrims to visit a historic gurdwara there without visas, PTI reported quoting BBC Urdu.

In an interview to BBC Urdu, the Pakistani minister said that a system was being developed for Sikhs to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, adding “soon some forward movement is expected”.

“Pakistan will soon open the border at Kartarpur for Sikh pilgrims and the pilgrims will be able to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without visas,” Fawad Chaudhry said.

Kartarpur based gurdwara is revered by Sikhs due to the belief that the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak died there.

It is located in Narowal district of Punjab province near the Indian border.

The first indication of opening the crossing was given by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa when he met Congress politician Navjot Singh Sidhu in Islamabad during the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Defending his hug with Bajwa, Sidhu had said last month that he was overwhelmed when told that Pakistan was making efforts to allow access to Kartarpur Sahib.

Navjot Singh Sidhu asks Sushma Swaraj to make ‘positive move’ on Kartarpur gurdwara corridor

Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday wrote to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, requesting the government to take a “positive step” on the issue of the Kartarpur gurdwara corridor.

Undeterred by BJP criticism over his praise of Prime Minister Imran Khan on the issue, Sidhu expressed confidence that the corridor would bring in peace between both India and Pakistan.

“It is time for India to take a positive step on this highly emotional issue. When opportunity knocks, kindly step up and open the door. The opening of this corridor will be a huge thing for the Sikh community all over the world. The corridor can usher in peace and prosperity between the two countries,” Sidhu said in a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that was released to the media on Sunday.

“Pakistan has shown a positive intent towards the long-pending corridor demand. Some positivity came out when I visited Pakistan for the oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan. Now their Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary has categorically said that the corridor will be opened and even visas won’t be required to visit the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara as part of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. It is time for India to take a positive step on this highly emotional issue,” Sidhu said in the letter.

Sidhu pointed out that after Partition in August 1947, several historical gurdwaras fell in Pakistan territory, including the Katarpur Sahib gurdwara associated with Guru Nanak Dev.

“Since then, Sikhs living in India always pray that they should be able to pay obeisance at the gurdwaras across the border. Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara holds great significance as it is the place where Guru Nanak Dev spent almost 18 years. The gurdwara is very close to the international border,” he pointed out.

Sidhu said that thousands of devotees in India visit Dera Baba Nanak area in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district daily just to catch a glimpse of this holy shrine through binoculars arranged by the Border Security Force.

“With Pakistan showing a positive intent, the common belief is that this can turn into reality. Appropriate steps on the corridor must be taken due to strong Sikh sentiments attached to it. Hoping for a positive response from you,” he added.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sikh-community-welcomes-pakistans-decision-to-open-kartarpur-border/

Good Friends both these cricketers are. Hope Indian government responds positively.

   

Pakistani student bags top position in Commonwealth essay competition



Bringing laurels to the nation, a young Pakistani student named Zahra Hussain has won the British Royal Commonwealth Society’s essay competition for her short story.

Zahra's story, named 'Hues of Red', tackles child marriage and domestic violence in South Asia. It acts as a beacon of hope for the younger generation and imparts social awareness on these issues.

A student of Lahore Grammar School International, Zahra, received rave reviews from the jury for her award-winning story that has earned her top prize in the competition.

Receiving the news of her victory, Zahra expressed immense gratitude.

“I’m mostly in disbelief, because it’s such a huge honour, but once I get past that I think I’ll be incredibly excited,” she said.

Speaking about her passion for writing Zahra said, “Your writing style can be as diverse as you want it to be – it’s a very unique kind of freedom, and I absolutely adore it.”

Adding further, she said that winning the first prize in a competition with 12,000 other students was definitely a milestone achievement for her and she is extremely happy and content by the results.

The Royal Commonwealth Society, congratulating the budding writer in a Facebook post wrote:

“We are delighted to announce the Winners and Runners-Up of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018. Senior Winner Zahra Hussain, 17, is from Lahore, Pakistan and Senior Runner-Up Ng Woon Neng, 16, is from Singapore. Junior Winner Janine Shum, 13, is from Singapore and Junior Runner-Up Floria Gu, 13, is from Vancouver, Canada.”

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/369741-pakistani-student-bags-top-position-in-commonwealth-essay-competition

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Sajid Javid meets Imran Khan as anti-terror and corruption pact announced

Speaking in Islamabad, Sajid Javid said the partnership will strive for "justice and accountability".



The British home secretary has met the prime minister of Pakistan as a new partnership between the two countries to fight terror is announced.

Sajid Javid, the son of Pakistani immigrants, was pictured shaking hands with the newly elected Imran Khan during a visit to Pakistan.

It comes as a new partnership has been announced between the two nations to eradicate corruption and tackle terror.

Speaking in Islamabad, Mr Javid said the partnership will strive for "justice and accountability".

He said "no one can escape justice or act with impunity" and urged for a "more concerted action" to combat terror groups.

Shortly after the meeting, the Twitter account for Mr Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, tweeted a photo of the politicians shaking hands.

Mr Javid also met with the country's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. The pair discussed security and terrorism.

He also spent time with law minister Farogh Nasim.

The home secretary said they discussed security issues and mechanisms for bilateral prisoner transfers, as well as money laundering, trade and education.

Mr Khan's government has pledged corruption-free governance and has promised to return to Pakistan allegedly stolen public money.

https://news.sky.com/story/sajid-javid-meets-imran-khan-as-anti-terror-and-corruption-pact-announced-11500688

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Imran Khan auctions 102 official luxury cars worth Dh59 million, 8 buffaloes

Filed on September 17, 2018 | Last updated on September 17, 2018 at 04.49 pm



The auction has been billed as part of Khan's drive to give "the nation's wealth to its rightful owners".

Pakistan's new government on Monday began auctioning off about 100 government-owned vehicles as part of new Prime Minister Imran Khan's highly publicised cost-cutting drive, which has drawn mixed reviews.

Auction official Mohammad Asif told Reuters the vehicles could bring in about 2 billion rupees ($16 million) to the cash-strapped government's coffers, although that estimate depends on finding buyers for four bullet-proof Mercedes, estimated in value together at 1 billion rupees.

Apart from luxury cars, the government, facing huge debts and liabilities, plans to auction eight buffaloes kept by deposed and jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House for his "gastronomic requirements", a senior aide to Khan said last week.

The auction has been billed as part of Khan's drive to give "the nation's wealth to its rightful owners", though critics say most of the new government's cost-cutting measures are more symbolism than significant savings.

Former cricket star Khan, 65, took office last month after a populist election campaign in which he railed against what he denounced as the corruption and waste of the two main political parties that have traded power for more than 50 years in between periods of military rule.

Khan has promised to cut costs, including trimming the motorcades of government officials and selling public land.

"It is a change of mindset," Khan said in a speech on Friday.

"I will be counting every single rupee I have to spend on me."

Khan's austerity vows, however, have been undercut by his near-daily helicopter commute from his home in the hills above Islamabad.

Critics say the cost-cutting has been mostly cosmetic.

"There is nothing new in the current austerity drive," said political commentator Raza Rumi.

Auctions of aging government vehicles, for example, have taken place for years, though not so publicised.

The 36 Mercedes and BMW vehicles was a larger number than at previous auctions - and the sale offered bullet-proof luxury sedans estimated to be worth 250 million rupees (about $2 million) each.

Still, nearly three-quarters of the 101 vehicles on offer were more than 10 years old, some noticeably knocked about. Two were 32-year-old Toyota Corollas.

IDEAS

Even if the auction were to bring in its projected 2 billion rupees, that is a drop in the bucket compared with the government's 5.9 trillion rupee ($48.19 billion) budget, which projects a 1.7 trillion rupees in deficit spending.

Still, Khan's information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, said even symbolic steps were important for building national unity.

Public morale may be important in the coming year as Pakistan could face painful conditions for foreign financing - possibly an International Monetary Fund bailout - to address dwindling foreign currency reserves and a ballooning current account deficit.

Chaudhry argued that small cutbacks can add up.

"If you try to see its effect on the GDP, it is small, but in numbers, it is not small," Chaudhry told Reuters.

Still, public reaction to the austerity drive has been mixed.

When the new foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, announced he would not fly first class, only business class, when travelling abroad, many pointed out that this was already the case under the previous government.

Other early ideas - including Khan's vow to cut more than 500 staff from Prime Minister House and establishing a six-day work week for civil servants - were shelved as unworkable.

In particular, Khan has been mocked by some for taking a helicopter into Islamabad most days, after publicly declaring he would eschew motorcades and declining to live in the official prime minister's residence.

Information Minister Chaudhry said the helicopter commute used less fuel than a motorcade, at one point arguing that it cost only 50 rupees (40 cents) per kilometre.

That calculation provoked fresh ridicule.

"Why don't you stop metro bus service and instead let people enjoy the cheap helicopter rides?" quipped a TV host.

In fact, the eight-seat helicopter Khan uses costs about 200,000 rupees ($1,633) per hour factoring in fuel, crew, maintenance and safety inspections, according to Syed Naseem Ahmad, president of the Society of Air Safety Investigation Pakistan.

'TWO CENTS'

Optics aside, analysts say Pakistan will have to take more painful steps - such as raising fuel prices - to make a real dent.

"In a nutshell, there is no indication yet, that Prime Minister Khan has a concrete plan to cut Pakistan's mounting debt and government spending," said Yousuf Nazar, former head of Global Emerging Markets Investments, Citigroup.

An indication of cost-cutting policy is likely to come on Tuesday, when Finance Minister Asad Umar announces revisions to the budget.

In the meantime, some of the about 500 attendees at Monday's auction said they would be happy to take the vehicles off the government's hands.

Nawab Gul bought a 2005 Toyota Altas for 1.25 million rupees ($10,000).

"They are saying the national coffers are empty. So, here, have my two cents," Gul said.

Another bidder Taufeeq Nawab said he would like to buy one of the older, cheaper vehicles for his family.

"I can say that I have a Prime Minister House car. My kids will feel good riding in it."

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/pakistan/imran-khan-auctions-102-official-luxury-cars-worth-dh59-million-8-buffaloes

   

I like this new PM!!! My kind of guy getting rid of the fancy cars for the Princes of Government!!!

   

We here in Pakistan are absolutely loving it

He is also going to convert PM house into a university and we can hear the cries of opposition

Nafisa Shah continues to attack PTI's decision of turning PM House into university



Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nafisa Shah continued expressing her displeasure on Friday at the government’s decision of turning the PM House into a university.

The PPP leader uttered her disapproval at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s decision of turning the Prime Minister House into a post-graduate educational institution claiming the property is not under PM Imran Khan’s personal possession.

Taking to Twitter, Shah continued her thread of condemning tweets on Friday saying: "So does #PTI expect that future prime minister's will park themselves in Islamabad's Guest houses and when foreign dignatories come host them in Shadi halls in Pindi? #PMHouse"

She went on to state: "This is the first PrimeMinister who is set to obliterate Prime Minsterial spaces from where he/she operates. Why stop at that? Convert the Presidential Palace into another university& prime minister's secretariat into student halls. Move these offices into the cabinet division."

Earlier on Thursday the PPP leader had criticized the government's decision as well saying: “The PM House is not the personal property of Imran Khan. He should convert his own Bani Gala 'Mahal' (mansion) into a university,” she had tweeted.

She had gone on to bring focus on PM Khan’s Bani Gala residence saying: “300 canal property of Bani Gala is a very good location. Let’s start with Bani Gala Institute of Agroforestry there.”

Moreover, Shah stressed: “I am all for universities&colleges but Islamabad a city of 12 lakh people has 20 Universities&100 colleges& each of them needs more resources to improve their quality. #PMHouse is an institution not simply a residence. It's sad that #PTI is resorting 2such cheap stunts.”

It was announced on Thursday by Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood the government’s decision to utilise the land of the Prime Minister House for establishing a post-graduate educational institute.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/368553-he-should-turn-bani-gala-mansion-into-a-university-nafisa-shah-to-pm-imran-khan

Some glimpse by Pak media of PM house

   

Oh shit.....

Pilots on Indian flight forget to switch on cabin pressure

David Reid | @cnbcdavy
Published 6 Hours Ago Updated 2 Hours Ago



Around 30 passengers on a domestic flight in India suffered ear pain and nose bleeding after pilots "forgot" to flick a switch that regulated cabin pressure.

The Mumbai-Jaipur Jet Airways flight 9W 697 was diverted safely back to Mumbai on Thursday with 166 passengers and five crew members on board.

A passenger tweeted a video of the cabin interior as oxygen masks dropped down.

https://twitter.com/DarshakHathi/status/1042588121634951170

The incident happened after the flight crew neglected to turn on the switch that helps maintain cabin pressure during the ascent, according to a report by news agency ANI.

The Hindustan Times quoted a senior official of India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), who confirmed that the crew had forgotten to select the correct setting.

Another person took to Twitter to lambast the airline, claiming that passenger safety had been "completely ignored."

In a statement, Jet Airways said it regretted the inconvenience caused by a loss in cabin pressure and that the cockpit crew had been taken off scheduled duties.

"The B737 aircraft, with 166 guests and five crew, landed normally in Mumbai. All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to a few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/20/pilots-on-indian-flight-forget-to-switch-on-cabin-pressure.html

   

A rather large "whoops"

   

Why China and the U.S. Are Vying for Dominance in Pakistan

Wall Street Journal
Published on Sep 10, 2018




3:18 to 3:25.......Disagree with that. Pakistan won't be destabilized if US doesn't bail out Pakistan with IMF...Pakistan has faced US sanctions before...Nothing happened.

Oh...So WSJ is saying battle regarding Pakistan is to get no. 1 spot....Didn't know that we are that important...Feeling empowered



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Pak-Saudi Arabia agree on US$10bn economic package

Last Updated On 20 September,2018 09:54 pm


Saudi Arabia will build an oil city in Gawadar under CPEC

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – An economic package worth US$10 billion has been agreed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia, it has been decided mutually that Saudi Arabia will build an oil city in Gawadar and the project will be part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

It is pertinent here to mention that China, who is the main investor in CPEC, had planned to build oil city in Gawadar. But with the visit of PM Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia, Saudi king has premised for an investment of $10Billion.

Pakistan has given the project to Saudi Arabia after taking China in confidence over agreements with Saudi Arabia under CPEC.

Sources said that agreements worth billions of dollars will also be signed with United Arab Emirates (UAE) government.

Earlier, in his first interview with a Saudi newspaper after assuming office, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that Pakistan will always stand by Saudi Arabia whenever it faces difficult time.

“Pakistanis want to assure people of Saudi Arabia that we will stand with Saudi Arabia, because Saudi Arabia has stood with us in bad times. We will always stand by Saudi Arabia whenever it faces difficult time,” Imran said.

Answering a question Imran said Pakistan would like to ensure peace in the Middle East because it is very distressing for Muslims to see conflict among Muslim nations.

We would like our role as reconciliator to bring Muslim world together. This would be our main effort, Imran said and added that in Yemen too, if we are required, we will play positive role there also to end the conflict.

Khan said that Saudi Arabia is one country for which the people of Pakistan have special love. Every Muslim has a special bond with Saudi Arabia because of Makkah and Madinah.

He said the government of Saudi Arabia had always been very generous to Pakistan in times of our need. Saudi Arabia always has been of great help for us. There is a special bond with Saudi Arabia. All Pakistanis want Saudi Arabia to be secure and prosperous. We all pray for Saudi Arabia.

Imran said that we want to develop our relations with all our neighbours including Afghanistan and India, a relationship based on mutual trust. He said that Pakistan have good relations with Iran and China.

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/458021-Pakistan-Saudi-Arabia-US$10bn-Economic-Package-PM-Imran-UAE-China-CPEC

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Pakistan invites Saudi Arabia to join China's Belt and Road corridor

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Islamabad has invited Saudi Arabia to become the third partner in the Beijing-funded Belt and Road corridor of major infrastructure projects inside Pakistan, Pakistan’s information minister said on Thursday.

The announcement comes on the back of a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia by new Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had been expected to push for financial assistance from Islamabad’s ally to help Pakistan deal with a brewing currency crisis.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry did not reveal if Saudi Arabia would be loaning money to Pakistan to help top up its dwindling foreign currency reserves, but said he expected Saudi Arabia to invest in Pakistan in a major way.

“Saudi Arabia is the first country whom we have invited as third country partner in CPEC,” Chaudhry said, referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Pakistan leg of China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Beijing has pledged $60 billion to build power stations, major highways, new and upgraded railways and higher capacity ports, to help turn Pakistan into a major overland route linking western China to the world.

Chaudhry said a Saudi delegation will be coming to Pakistan in the first week of October, including the Saudi minister for finance and energy, and that should lay down a “foundation for a very big partnership”.

“God willing, very big investments will be coming to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia this way,” he added.

Khan’s term began with new doubt over the CPEC projects, when his commerce minister was quoted as saying Pakistan would suspend them for a year and review them. The minister later said his comments were taken out of context, and Pakistani officials reassured Beijing there would be no delay.

Pakistan has in the past suggested that other countries could join CPEC, but the response has been lukewarm due to concerns that China would dominate any relationship.

Saudi Arabia has a history of bailing out Pakistan financially. In 2014, six months after Pakistan obtained its last IMF bailout, Saudi Arabia loaned it $1.5 billion that the government used to strengthen its rupee currency.

Ahead of Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia speculation was rife that Islamabad will be asking for a loan to help Pakistan avoid being forced to seek another IMF bailout.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-saudi-silkroad/pakistan-invites-saudi-arabia-to-join-chinas-belt-and-road-corridor-idUSKCN1M02DA

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Pakistani PM Khan Meets Leaders In Saudi Arabia, U.A.E.


Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visits the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on September 18.

New Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is visiting the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) after a stay in Saudi Arabia on his first official overseas trip, officials say.

Kahn arrived in the U.A.E. late on September 19 and was met by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

Earlier in the day, Khan visited Jiddah, the Saudi Red Sea port city, where he met with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman at a luncheon in the Peace Palace.

The Saudi Press Agency released few details of the meetings, saying, "They reviewed the historical relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to enhance them."

Khan's office said the leaders exchanged ideas on enhancing cooperation in "political, defense, economic, commercial, and cultural sectors" and developing "joint ventures."

It added that Khan invited the king and crown prince to visit Pakistan.

A day earlier, Khan was in Medina, where he visited the Prophet's Mosque.

Khan was accompanied on the trip by Finance Minister Asad Umar and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Many Pakistanis are employed in both of the Gulf countries, which offer better wages than they can receive back home.

Based on reporting by AP, Khaleej Times, and Arab Times

https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-khan-saudi-arabia-uab-gulf-visit/29499020.html

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Xi meets Pakistani army chief

Source: Xinhua Published: 2018/9/20 9:05:45

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa here Wednesday, calling on the two countries to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.

Bajwa conveyed cordial greetings from Pakistani President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to Xi. Xi expressed thanks and asked Bajwa to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to them.

Noting the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and that the two countries are "iron friends," Xi said the two sides have been keeping "highly aligned" with each other on major international and regional issues.

China always places a high premium on China-Pakistan relations, Xi said, adding that the two sides had maintained a high level of mutual trust on issues of each other's major concerns.

During the meeting, Xi expressed appreciation for the support and security safeguard provided by the Pakistani side for the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction.

"As long as high-degree mutual trust and concrete measures are in place, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction will succeed and deliver benefits to people of the two countries," Xi said.

"At present, the international and regional situation is undergoing complex changes, and the two countries are supporting each other, helping each other and enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation, which have yielded fruitful outcomes," Xi said, adding that such efforts comply with the trend of the times.

He also hailed the practical achievements reached during the deepening of cooperation between the two countries' militaries.

The two countries' militaries should further deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at all levels, take resolute measures against terrorist forces, make efforts to ensure the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction and serve as a reliable safeguard for the common interests and common development of the two countries.

Bajwa said the Pakistani side resolutely supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and Pakistan always places relations with China at a primary strategic position in developing foreign relations and always sides with China on issues involving each other's core interests.

He expressed Pakistan's sincere thanks to the help China has provided to the country in various fields.

He said the Pakistani side is willing to strengthen strategic communication, practical exchanges and counter-terrorism cooperation with Chinese military to maintain the common interests and strategic security of the two countries and contribute to international and regional peace and stability.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1120322.shtml

Hard to keep pace with these all developments....World has become too fast

   

I never had air travel...What else does it mean? Do we also feel suffocated? unable to breath?...

   

Yes, it would be hard to breathe, and your cognitive abilities suffer - that is, you find it hard to think.

   

Air travel quite scares me.....At least in train, one has better chance to survive in case of accident. Right? Moreover, we are all on ground/earth.

Or maybe it just depends on speed of train....the faster the speed, the more the damage.

I think we should travel countries on scooter but even in that scenario, one can die

What about travel by foot?

   

Then your feet hurt.

   

How fucking hard would it be to make a plane that automatically regulates cabin pressure without pilot intervention... or at least have a big red light flash accompanied by a "BEEP-BEEP" if he forgets?


EDIT: I added "fucking" only because it amuses Fighter.

   

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