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RIYADH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for high-level talks with the Kingdom’s leadership, as Pakistan seeks to further strengthen its strategic partnership with Riyadh and expand diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting regional peace and stability.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and comes at a significant time in regional geopolitics. Discussions are expected to focus on security cooperation, defence collaboration, economic partnership and coordination on key regional developments.

Accompanying the prime minister are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.

During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to hold extensive talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on expanding the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, reviewing the regional security environment and enhancing cooperation in the fields of defence, investment and the economy.

The inclusion of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in the delegation highlights the growing strategic dimension of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations. According to security analysts, the visit reflects Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening defence coordination with the Kingdom at a time when regional stability remains a shared priority.

The visit also comes as Pakistan continues to project an active diplomatic role in regional affairs. Islamabad has consistently advocated dialogue over confrontation and has supported international efforts aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging peaceful engagement in the Middle East. Pakistani officials have maintained that the country’s foreign policy is focused on promoting regional peace, stability and constructive diplomacy.

Officials said Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagement, including its support for dialogue among regional and international stakeholders, has reinforced its image as a country seeking political solutions to complex regional challenges. They added that Islamabad remains committed to facilitating an environment conducive to peace and stability while maintaining close coordination with key partners, including Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share longstanding brotherly relations built on mutual trust, shared faith and unwavering support. Over the years, the relationship has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership covering defence, security, investment, energy and regional cooperation.

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Officials said the recent defence cooperation pact between the two countries has further strengthened bilateral ties by adding greater institutional depth to military collaboration and opening new avenues for strategic coordination. They noted that the agreement reflects the confidence both leaderships have in each other’s commitment to safeguarding regional peace and collective security.

Against the backdrop of changing geopolitical dynamics, the meetings in Riyadh are expected to reaffirm the close alignment between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on regional and international issues while exploring fresh opportunities for economic investment and defence cooperation.

In addition to his official engagements, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will perform Umrah and offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Officials described the visit as another milestone in Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, expressing confidence that the high-level engagement would further strengthen one of Pakistan’s most important strategic partnerships and reinforce Islamabad’s continued commitment to regional peace, dialogue and stability.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced that the party will stage peaceful sit-ins at 510 locations across the country on Friday in protest against the petroleum levy, inflation, and rising petroleum product prices. He said traffic on major highways would be blocked during the demonstrations, while ambulances would be allowed to pass.

Addressing a protest organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami Women’s Wing on Wahdat Road in Lahore against inflation and the increase in petroleum product prices, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman warned that the party would expand its protest movement if any attempt was made to obstruct the demonstrations.

He demanded that the government abolish the petroleum levy and fix the price of petrol at Rs225 per litre.

Hafiz Naeem said the petroleum levy has a direct impact on the prices of essential commodities and that inflation is severely affecting ordinary citizens, particularly women. He added that the government has increased the tax burden on the public while failing to reduce its own expenditures.

He also alleged that despite a decline in global oil prices, the government had not reduced domestic petroleum product prices proportionately. He further claimed that the revenue collected through the petroleum levy had not been spent on improving the country’s energy sector infrastructure.

According to Jamaat-e-Islami’s announcement, nationwide sit-ins and demonstrations will begin at 4:00 pm on Friday, August 7. Major protest locations include Qurtaba Chowk in Lahore, Sharea Faisal in Karachi, Faizabad (26 Number Chungi) in Islamabad, Motorway Toll Plaza in Peshawar, Chungi No. 6, Bosan Road in Multan, Meezan Chowk (Ghazri Road) in Quetta, Barat Bagh, Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Chakdara Interchange in Swat, and the Indus Highway in Karak.

Hafiz Naeem reiterated that demonstrations would be held at a total of 510 locations across different districts of the country and emphasized that all protests would remain peaceful.

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ISLAMABAD: Consultations at the government level on the creation of new provinces have intensified, with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Law conducting a detailed review of the constitutional and legal aspects of the process.

According to parliamentary sources, the creation of new provinces requires implementation of Article 239 of the Constitution. The sources said that previously passed resolutions by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies carry no legal significance for the creation of new provinces.

They said that before seeking approval from the relevant provincial assembly, a constitutional amendment must first be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the National Assembly. At least four constitutional provisions would need to be amended for the establishment of new provinces.

Parliamentary sources stated that Articles 1, 51, 59, and 106 of the Constitution would require amendments. They added that the number of provinces, as well as the allocation of seats in the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies, would have to be revised. Seats reserved for women and minorities would also need to be reallocated.

According to the sources, under Article 239, the constitutional amendment bill would first be introduced in either the Senate or the National Assembly.

After securing a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, the bill would be sent to the relevant provincial assembly instead of the President. Under Article 239, the provincial assembly would also have to approve the bill with a two-thirds majority.

The sources said that a new province can only be established after the bill receives two-thirds approval from the Senate, the National Assembly, and the concerned provincial assembly.

Following approval by the provincial assembly, the bill would be sent to the President for assent. Once approved by the President, the process for establishing the new province would formally begin.

However, parliamentary sources said that if the provincial assembly fails to pass the bill with a two-thirds majority, the entire process would become ineffective.

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