RIYADH, (TDI): Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited a college in Riyadh on Wednesday, where he praised advancements in higher education and discussed potential collaboration in the field.
He also met with officials at the Saudi Directorate of Passports to review facilities, according to Radio Pakistan.
Recently, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have bolstered their bilateral cooperation, signing over 30 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements worth $2.8 billion, covering sectors like industry, agriculture, information technology, and energy.
During his visit, Naqvi met Dr. Ali Al Duaij, the Director General of King Fahd Security College (KFSC), where they discussed opportunities for study tours and training programs for graduates of both countries.
Naqvi toured several departments of the college, expressing appreciation for the quality of its higher education. He also visited the Forensic Science Institute at the college. According to the report, Naqvi was briefed about the college’s offerings, which include Master’s degrees in artificial intelligence, leadership management, and security studies, as well as scholarships for international students.
Education System also Discussed
Naqvi also commended the college’s five-year strategic plan and master’s programs, highlighting their alignment with the needs of the modern era.
Last year, Saudi Arabia announced it would increase scholarships for Pakistani students and introduce an exchange program for teachers to conduct research on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Visit to the Saudi Directorate of Passports
Naqvi also visited the Saudi Directorate of Passports, where he was welcomed by Acting Director General Dr. Saleh Al Murabba. During his visit, Naqvi toured various departments and inspected the call center. He reviewed the Directorate’s advanced technology and discussed measures to streamline the passport collection and issuance process, as well as to combat passport forgery through e-gates.
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Naqvi emphasized the potential benefits of Saudi cooperation, stating, “The assistance of the Saudi Directorate of Passports could help simplify and secure Pakistan’s passport system. Mutual cooperation will ease public services and prevent fraud.”
The post further quoted Naqvi as saying that a call center would be established in Pakistan, modeled after the Saudi Directorate of Passports. This partnership could help detect passport forgeries and document alterations within Pakistan.
Earlier, Naqvi met with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif in Riyadh, where the two leaders pledged to enhance security cooperation.
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Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long enjoyed a strong relationship based on economic, military, and cultural ties. Naqvi’s visit follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official two-day trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, during which he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Earlier in December, Saudi Arabia extended a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan for another year, supporting Pakistan’s economy, the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed.
