Saudi Arabia to release 2,107 prisoners during Ramazan; NA told

04 May, 2019

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas informed the National Assembly on Friday that Saudi Arabia is expected to release Pakistani prisoners during Ramazan under special clemency law of the Kingdom. She said that Pakistani missions in Saudi Arabia have been actively pursuing the release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners as announced by the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during his visit to Islamabad.
She said that around 3,400 Pakistani prisoners are in Saudi jails, out of them around 48 percent are involved in serious crimes like drug-peddling. She said that Foreign Office is constantly in touch with the Saudi authorities and has sought lists of the prisoners as well.
She said that Pakistan is expecting the Saudi crown prince to issue a decree for release of Pakistani prisoners during Ramazan under a special clemency law of the Kingdom. The parliamentary secretary also informed the House that the PTI government has introduced economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment and promote trade relations with other countries. She said that the commercial attachés have been given the message that their responsibilities are to earn revenue for the country. To another question, Parliamentary Secretary Commerce Shandana Gulzar Khan told the House that Pakistan is promoting culture of Halal food certification and from July this year Halal certification will be required for importers and local producers. She said Pakistani Halal food trade has witnessed an increase with the OIC countries. She said recently three meat slaughterhouses in Pakistan have been registered by the United Arab Emirates.
She said the government is bringing a new trade policy in which due focus will be given to the value addition of products. Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza told the House that task force on sports has given its guidelines for promotion of sports in the country.

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