Pakistan’s information minister and Saudi ambassador discuss television drama exchanges, cultural collaboration, tourism promotion and joint measures to counter misinformation.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar met Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Rajeh bin Tami Al-Baqami and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in information, broadcasting, media and culture.
During the meeting, Tarar welcomed the Saudi ambassador on his posting to Pakistan and congratulated him on his new assignment. Both sides discussed opportunities to expand cooperation across various sectors, with particular emphasis on media exchanges, cultural activities and people-to-people contacts.
Tarar said Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations were reaching new heights, with considerable potential for collaboration in media, culture, television dramas, music, tourism and public engagement.
He described the Makkah Defence Agreement as a reflection of the strong defence partnership between the two countries. He also praised Saudi Arabia’s economic and cultural transformation under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, citing AlUla and Diriyah as prominent examples of the kingdom’s development.
The minister said Pakistan-Saudi relations were built on generations of friendship and rested on strong historical, religious and public foundations.
He also paid tribute to Pakistani citizen Farman Ali Khan, who sacrificed his life while saving several people during the 2009 Jeddah floods.
Focus on Pakistani dramas and cultural exchanges
A key subject discussed during the meeting was the introduction of Pakistani television dramas in Saudi Arabia. Tarar said Pakistani dramas reflect family values, eastern traditions and Islamic culture, making them a potential avenue for greater cultural engagement between the two countries.
He proposed exchanges involving writers, poets, artists, musicians, media representatives and digital content creators to promote mutual understanding and strengthen cultural links.
The minister also invited Saudi media representatives, tourists and social media influencers to visit Pakistan and explore its tourist destinations.
Joint efforts to counter misinformation
The discussions also covered cooperation against misinformation and negative propaganda on digital platforms.
Tarar stressed the importance of strengthening fact-checking mechanisms and proposed establishing a joint working group comprising focal persons and technical teams from both countries to coordinate efforts in this area.
To highlight the reach of digital communication, he noted that a social media post concerning the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme had received more than 8 million views.
Saudi Ambassador Rajeh bin Tami Al-Baqami described the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, based on brotherhood, mutual trust and respect, as a matter of pride.
He also highlighted the countries’ political and military cooperation and called for further collaboration in cultural events, arts, literature and media.
The meeting reflected both sides’ interest in expanding bilateral engagement beyond traditional areas of cooperation through media, cultural initiatives and stronger public connections.
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