Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia stand proudly together in all circumstances and on all occasions.
In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister recalled his meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who graced the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad as the guest of honour.
Expressing his delight at meeting the Saudi dignitary, Shehbaz said he has conveyed his warm wishes to the Saudi King and Crown Prince.
The Prime Minister also congratulated the Saudi Defense Minister for receiving Pakistan’s highest civilian award Nishan-i-Pakistan for his invaluable contribution to strengthening Pak-Saudi brotherly ties.
In his post on X, the Saudi minister said that during his meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, “we reviewed the strong ties between the two countries and ways to strengthen them.”
He said recent regional and international developments and efforts to promote peace were also discussed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that providing universal access to quality basic health services is a constitutional responsibility of the government, which recognizes the importance of tackling tuberculosis (TB) as a public health priority.
The government has introduced various programs and policies to fight the disease, the prime minister said in his World Tuberculosis Day message.
“On this World Tuberculosis Day 2024, I recognize the services of everyone who has committed to the fight against tuberculosis and reiterate our government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at eradicating TB and improving the health and well-being of our citizens,” said the PM Office Media Wing, quoted in a press release Prime Minister’s words.
The Prime Minister said tuberculosis remains a major global health problem that causes immense suffering and claims too many lives each year.
“It is essential that we prioritize the elimination of TB in our global health agenda and allocate resources accordingly. Together, we can use innovation, research and technology to accelerate progress towards a TB-free world,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that while they strived to provide equitable health services to their citizens, they deeply appreciated the role of the private sector and our global partners.
“I call on all partners, organizations, health professionals and individuals to join our efforts to end TB. We must work together to strengthen health care systems, increase access to quality diagnosis and treatment, and raise awareness of the importance of TB prevention and control measures,” he emphasized.
The Prime Minister further pledged to cooperate and leave no room for complacency in their mission to eliminate TB from Pakistan.
