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ISLAMABAD: A Saudi business delegation on Saturday signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to promote IT education and sports in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, amid Riyadh’s deepening engagement with the South Asian nation.

The delegation, led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammed bin Saad Al-Saud, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council met with Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori to discuss expanding opportunities for youth in education, technology and sports.

The development came weeks after Pakistan and �������� signed a defense pact and are now exploring new economic opportunities. The latest agreements signal Riyadh’s growing interest in supporting youth and innovation in Pakistan.

“Under these MoUs, the two countries will work together to provide new avenues of growth for youth through modern IT education, joint training programs, youth exchange initiatives and sports competitions,” Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori’s office said in a statement.

“These MoUs mark the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between Pakistan and the Kingdom of �������� in the fields of youth development, technology advancement and sports collaboration.”

Tessori said Pakistan and ��������’s this collaboration would help polish the skills of youth and strengthen bilateral relations, according to the governor’s office.

Prince Mansour appreciated Tessori’s efforts and said the potential of Pakistani youth offers �������� an opportunity to deepen its ties with Pakistan.

The Saudi delegation earlier signed two agreements to boost investment in Karachi’s energy sector. They finalized a share-sale agreement with KES Power Limited and a cooperation framework between K-Electric and Trident Energy Limited to explore new opportunities in Pakistan’s power and infrastructure markets.

Pakistan and �������� share longstanding ties rooted in faith, mutual respect and strategic cooperation. Riyadh remains a key political and economic partner, with both nations now expanding collaboration in trade, technology and youth development.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has directed private Hajj operators to complete booking of 20,000 pilgrims within next seven days, Pakistani state media reported.

Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators.

Last year, around 63,000 Pakistani pilgrims were unable to perform Hajj under the private scheme due to delays in payments and mismanagement by private Hajj operators. As a result, Islamabad was forced to surrender these slots to ��������.

Officials at a review meeting on Friday noted that 40,000 Hajj pilgrims have so far been booked under the private scheme against a quota of 60,000 and the last date for booking is Oct. 17.

“Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has directed the Dependent Hajj Companies to complete the booking of 20,000 private Hajj pilgrims within next seven days,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry announced last month that Hajj applicants can seek a refund or nominate a blood relative to perform the next year’s pilgrimage in their stead if they are unable to proceed further due to any emergencies, in major relief for intending pilgrims.

Under the government scheme, applicants deposited a first installment of Rs500,000 ($1,764) or Rs550,000 ($1,941) depending on the package in August while the remaining dues will be collected in November.

“The ministry has uploaded the forms on its website for refund or nominating a substitute for any of the 118,000 government scheme Hajj pilgrims who have already submitted their first installment but are unable to travel due to death or any other serious and valid reason,” Muhammad Umer Butt, a religious affairs ministry spokesperson, told Arab News.