Recalling Saudi Arabia’s unwavering financial and diplomatic assistance to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged national unity to combat such anti-state groups and cautioned that any hate speech directed at such a fraternal nation would be an unforgivable crime.
Speaking at the opening of the restoration of the Kachhi Canal, which was damaged by the floods in 2022, the prime minister stated that Saudi Arabia has always supported and aided Pakistan, whether it was in the UN Security Council, the UN, or the Kashmir dispute. The Kingdom recently provided Pakistan with financial assistance so that it could apply for an IMF program.
“Even so, spewing venom is an unacceptable offence. As Pakistan’s prime minister, I would like to declare that the country will stop at nothing to sabotage the alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. This is serious. The accusation is incomprehensible. After launching the project that will irrigate more than 715,000 acres of land in Balochistan and bring life back to the region that had been left desolate by the floods, he said, “The greatest national interest is being’slaughtered’ to serve the short-term political interest.”
In response to a statement made by the PTI founder’s spouse against Saudi Arabia, he remarked: “There can be no animosity to Pakistan bigger than this” and clarified that those who said such things were unaware of the extent of the harm caused by their “venomous” remarks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz recalled that the Kingdom had provided Pakistan with financial help and a free oil facility following its 1998 nuclear tests.
After suffering greatly under Pervez Musharraf, he informed the audience that the feasibility study of the Kachhi Canal Project was began in 1998 under the tenure of Nawaz Sharif and finished during his second term.
In addition to expressing gratitude to the WAPDA and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and their teams for completing the restoration project, he promised full federal support for the second phase.
