Islamabad: Charge d’affaires of the Kyrgyz Embassy in Pakistan Melis Moldaliev on Saturday was called to the Foreign Office for a demarche by Director General (ECO & CARs) Aizaz Khan, conveying the deep concerns of the Government of Pakistan about the reports of last night’s incidents against Pakistani students studying in the Kyrgyz Republic.

“It was impressed on the Kyrgyz Charge d’affaires that the Kyrgyz government should take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students and citizens residing in the Kyrgyz Republic,” Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement.

“The Government of Pakistan takes the matter of the safety and security of its national around the world very seriously and would take all necessary measures to ensure their well-being,” it was asserted.

The Kyrgyz authorities expressed regret over the incidents of violence against foreign nationals including Pakistanis in Bishkek last night and also pledged to hold an inquiry and punish the perpetrators.

The Government of Pakistan was in contact with the Kyrgyz Government to ensure the safety and security of its nationals at risk in view of the mob riots of last night in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Embassy of Pakistan has opened an emergency helplines and responding to queries of students and their families.

Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigham has been in close contact with senior Kyrgyz authorities.

According to the Kyrgyz Health Ministry, four Pakistanis were provided first aid and discharged while one was under treatment for jaw injury.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has directed the Foreign Office to monitor the situation round-the-clock and to fully assist and facilitate Pakistani nationals.

Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that the law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic took prompt measures to arrest the people involved in the incident.

The situation was completely under the control of the security forces, and the safety of citizens and public order were ensured. There were no serious injuries among those who took part in the incident. About 15 citizens applied to medical institutions for examination, it was added.

Makkah Al- Mukarrama: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain visited the Rehlat Manafea Company, a service provider, on Sunday to review the arrangements made for Pakistani Hujjaj, particularly during the five Hajj days in Mashair from 8-12 Zilhaj.

Upon arrival, the company’s CEO, Ahmed Abdullatef Tammar, along with his team, welcomed the Pakistan delegation, led by the religious minister.

Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr Syed Ata-ur-Rehman, Director General (Hajj), Jeddah/Head of Pakistan Hajj Mission, Abdul Wahab Soomor, Director Makkah, Faheem Afridi, Head of Medical Mission, Brigadier Jamil Ahmed Lakhiar, Director Mouavneen Asghar Yusufzai and other officials assisted the minister in the meeting.

Minister Salik Hussain appreciated the company for making timely and elaborate arrangements, including transport, accommodation, and catering in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalfa. He stressed the need to explore ways and means for further collaboration in Hajj-related matters aimed at extending maximum facilitation to the guests of Allah Almighty at the holy land. During the meeting, CEO Ahmed Abdullatef Tammar said the company, which has a team of highly skilled professionals, has finalized 100 percent arrangements well before time.

The minister invited the CEO to visit Pakistan for increased cooperation and collaboration in future Hajj-related plans. Accepting the invitation, the CEO said he would visit Pakistan in August.

Later, Chaudhry Salik Hussain took a round of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalfa to witness the arrangements on the ground. The minister expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.

The visit of Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain to Rehlat Manafea Company demonstrated the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and spiritually fulfilling Hajj experience for Pakistani pilgrims. The minister’s appreciation for the company’s efforts and his invitation to the CEO to visit Pakistan reflect the government’s desire for continued collaboration and improvement in Hajj-related services.

Islamabad: Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has said that China invested in Pakistan under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project when the country was passing through difficult times, which helped to turnaround the local economy and put it on the sustainable growth and development trajectory.

“When China decided to invest $25 billion in Pakistan, this is [in] 2013, when we had 18 hours of power shortages and frequent suicide bombings at that time they decided to come to Pakistan and support Pakistan,” he stated in an interview with VOA.

 This shows they have trust and confidence in Pakistan, he said adding that recent bullish performance of the country’s stock exchange showed that the local investors had full confidence in the direction the government was following.

 “I think it is the same sense of confidence that Chinese investors and Chinese government has in this government,” he said adding that “China considers Pakistan as a strategic friend and has confidence in Pakistan,”.

Regarding the security of the Chinese nationals, the minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment for ensuring security of Chinese nationals and said that a special security unit as well as local law enforcement were tasked with ensuring their safety.

To another question regarding issues of security threats, the minister maintained that when you were fighting terrorism, the terrorists always tried to find a way somewhere.

Ahsan Iqbal said that the Chinese government had made it very clear that such cowardly incidents would not deter them from pursuing CPEC.

The minister further informed that Pakistan was not opposed to Afghanistan’s inclusion in a Chinese-funded mega-development project, but would like Beijing to persuade Kabul to crack down on terrorist groups operating on its soil.