Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to sign climate deal

The Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions in the region by 60 percent and plant 50 billion trees in the world’s biggest afforestation project. (Photo/Twitter)
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Updated 05 April 2021
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to sign climate deal

  • The Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions in the region by 60 percent and plant 50 billion trees in the world’s biggest afforestation project

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are set to sign an agreement in mid-April to collaborate in environmental initiatives, a senior Pakistani government official has confirmed.
The collaboration comes after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan last week welcomed the recent Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives introduced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Khan’s special aide on climate change, Malik Amin Aslam, met on Saturday to discuss the possible relationship.
“During our conversation, the Saudi envoy said the Kingdom was open to collaboration with Pakistan and wanted to declare their environmental projects as sister initiatives,” Aslam told Arab News.
“I recommended signing a formal MoU to carry forward such cooperation and the Saudi envoy maintained that we should do it as early as possible. We have already started preparing the draft which will be signed within 10 days,” he added.
Last week, Pakistan welcomed the Saudi crown prince’s green campaigns as a major step in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions in the region by 60 percent and plant 50 billion trees in the world’s biggest afforestation project.

BACKGROUND

• The Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions in the region by 60 percent and plant 50 billion trees in the world’s biggest afforestation project.

• Saudi Arabia will plant 10 billion trees in the coming decades and will be working with other Arab states to plant another 40 billion trees to combat pollution and land degradation.

“Am delighted to learn of ‘Green Saudi Arabia’ & ‘Green Middle East’ initiatives by my brother, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman!” Khan wrote on Twitter last week, adding: “Have offered our support on these as there are many complementarities with our ‘Clean & Green Pakistan’ & ‘10 Billion-Tree Tsunami’.”
Khan was referring to his government’s ambitious five-year tree planting program launched in 2018, with the aim of countering rising temperatures, flooding, droughts, and other extreme weather issues in the country that scientists have linked to climate change.
In a letter to the crown prince, Khan said that while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already maintained close cooperation on climate change issues at multilateral forums, “a meaningful and structured bilateral engagement can help advance our shared vision and create mutually beneficial opportunities for partnership.”

 


Three Spanish friends rewriting history to perform Hajj on horseback

Updated 5 sec ago
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Three Spanish friends rewriting history to perform Hajj on horseback

  • Pilgrims recreating historic 8,000 km route used by Andalusian Muslims
  • Team supported financially by local Muslims during 7-month ride

Jeddah: Three friends rode on horseback from Spain to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, reviving a pilgrimage route last used by Andalusian Muslims more than 500 years ago.

They reached Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region last week in time for Hajj after travelling through Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Turkiye, Syria and Jordan on a 8,000 km (4,970 miles) journey.

The three Spanish Muslims, Abdelkader Harkassi, Abdallah Hernandez and Tariq Rodriguez, are fulfilling a long-held ambition after embracing Islam 35 years ago.

The three riders are accompanied by Bouchaib Jadil, a construction master living in Spain, who is providing logistical support to the team by leading the way in a car.

It all started when Abdullah Hernandez reverted to Islam 35 years ago.

He told Arab News about how he felt grateful toward Allah for blessing him with guidance — Heidaya — and he promised to complete the Hajj pilgrimage the way his Andalusian ancestors did.

The team practiced for two years before setting off in October 2024 from Al-Monaster Mosque, south of Spain.

After crossing the border of Jordan on May 2, the three Spanish friends arrived in Qurayyat city in Al-Jawf Province, in northern Saudi Arabia on Friday after a remarkable seven-month horseback journey.

During their stop in Qurayyat, the pilgrims were hosted by the head of Al-Haditha Center, Mamdouh Al-Mutairi, who welcomed them to the Kingdom and wished them a pleasant stay and an acceptable and easy Hajj, meeting with students and supporters.

The pilgrims were received with a warm welcome from the residents of Qurayyat, who posed for memorable photos with them.

Hernandez told Arab News: “The team is very excited as we are getting closer to Makkah and Madinah. These holy cities are very special to us, and we have been dreaming of reaching them for a long time. Our hearts feel full of love and hope, and we are looking forward to this moment with deep respect and happiness.

“Through this journey we want to recover a historical Andalusian route from Spain to the Harram of Makkah. It is also a trip of challenges where every step is felt by us and the horses, but also is a journey for the soul,” he added.

One of the Hajj pilgrims, Harkassi, said they were happy to revive a lost tradition. He added that the team saved money and trained for several years for the journey.

He said: “We embarked on this journey with pure intentions to realize the Hajj.”

He added: “We are almost there, and hopefully, the rest of the journey will be easier.”

Their journey, spanning diverse landscapes and extreme weather conditions, is being shared with followers on social media.

“Crossing borders has been the biggest challenge. Some countries were more difficult to cross than others as horses are not considered a mode of transport anymore, but instead they need to be ‘imported’ into each country as livestock, but Alhamdulillah, we have managed to complete all the paperwork so far,” said Hernandez.

Their expedition, known as “Hajj on Horseback,” was warmly welcomed by Muslims and non-Muslims. Hernandez added: “We’ve been received with open arms everywhere we’ve gone — each country has somehow managed to be even more welcoming than the one before, MashAllah.

“Whether in Muslim or non-Muslim countries, people have shown incredible hospitality: Inviting us into their homes, sharing meals with us, listening to our stories and engaging in meaningful conversations about Islam.

“The warmth we’ve experienced in Muslim countries has been especially profound, reflecting the deep sense of unity within our Ummah. This beautiful spirit is clearly visible in our recent videos from Turkiye and Syria.”

The team set off with limited funds, but received support from local Muslims along the way to finance the costs of the unique journey.


KSrelief humanitarian projects launched in Yemen and Sudan

Updated 2 min 14 sec ago
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KSrelief humanitarian projects launched in Yemen and Sudan

  • In Yemen, during the first days of May, KSrelief launched Project Masam to clear unexploded ordinance across the war-torn country

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center continues to invest in volunteer projects to help improve the living conditions of people in Yemen and Sudan.

On Saturday, the organization finished a urology medical program in Port Sudan. Eight volunteer staff members examined 160 patients and performed 60 urological operations during the week-long initiative.

In Yemen, during the first days of May, KSrelief launched Project Masam to clear unexploded ordinance across the war-torn country.

Since its launch, the program has successfully cleared 491,983 explosives in Yemen.


Thousands benefit from Saudi Red Crescent volunteer initiatives

Updated 06 May 2025
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Thousands benefit from Saudi Red Crescent volunteer initiatives

JEDDAH: Thousands of volunteers have clocked in vast amounts of hours in service with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority during April, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The SRCA saw 2,762 volunteers collectively log 16,755 hours of service throughout the month.

The volunteers supported 9,295 individuals with 251 unique initiatives, the report added.

The diverse services include providing humanitarian aid, ambulance services, education awareness campaigns, and environmental efforts.


Saudi defense minister, Yemen PM discuss relations 

Updated 06 May 2025
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Saudi defense minister, Yemen PM discuss relations 

RIYADH: Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi minister of defense, met with Yemen’s newly-appointed Prime Minster Salem Saleh Bin Braik.

The pair discussed ways to boost Saudi-Yemeni relations, in addition to regional developments and the situation in Yemen. 

”I reaffirmed the Kingdom’s continued support for the government of Yemen in ways that will meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people,” Prince Khalid said in a post on X.

He also conveyed the Saudi leadership’s best wishes to Bin Braik after his appointment as Prime Minister, as well as their hopes for his success and for the stability, security, and prosperity of the people of Yemen. 

Yemen’s internationally recognized government named finance minister Bin Braik as its new prime minister on Saturday.


UNESCO delegation visits North Riyadh Geopark after global network listing

Updated 05 May 2025
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UNESCO delegation visits North Riyadh Geopark after global network listing

  • Destination showcases Kingdom’s natural and cultural diversity, UNESCO official says
  • In April, UNESCO listed North Riyadh Geopark and Salma as part of its Global Geoparks Network

RIYADH: UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Lidia Brito, visited North Riyadh Geopark on Sunday, praising the destination for preserving both nature and history.

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization designated North Riyadh Geopark in April as part of its Global Geoparks Network, which aims to protect geological heritage sites and promote sustainable development.

Hussam Zuhair Al-Turki, director of the Saudi Geoparks Initiative, and Hamoud Alnughaymishi, director of the Science Sector at the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, accompanied Brito during her visit.

They explored significant geological features at the North Riyadh Geopark, including the Abu Shaddad Cave and the Edge of the World cliff. They also stopped to explore Ghamra Village, known for its natural adventure routes on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Brito said that the North Riyadh Geopark showcases the natural and cultural diversity of Saudi Arabia, and will enhance eco-tourism in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In April, UNESCO designated North Riyadh Geopark and Salma Geopark as part of its Global Geoparks Network. The Kingdom hopes to register 13 other sites on UNESCO’s network, the SPA added.