POLITICAL ISSUES
Bahrain
1. President Zardari, King Hamad agree to bolster ties
Bahrain, Wednesday, 17 August 2011
President Asif Ali Zardari and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain agreed to further promote existing bilateral ties through enhanced economic interactions, promotion and facilitation of business community, providing mutual support to meet each another’s requirements, and taking advantage of the shared perceptions on a host of issues and work for the stability and peace of the region.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

2. President returns home after brief visit to Bahrain
Islamabad, Thursday, 18 August 2011
President Asif Ali Zardari returned home early Thursday morning after a short visit to Bahrain, during which he held wide-ranging talks with its leadership.
Source: Associated press of Pakistan

Egypt
3. IIUI to get more Egyptian teachers
Islamabad, Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Ambassador of Arab Republic of Egypt to Pakistan Magdy Mahmoud Helmy Amer announced Egypt’s decision to provide more teachers to various departments of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).
Source: Associated press of Pakistan

Iran
4. Pak-Iran bonds be manifested through closer contacts: Naek
Islamabad, Thursday, 11 August 2011
Chairman Senate, Farooq H. Naek said strong bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Pakistan and Iran must be manifested through closer parliamentary contacts.
Source: Associated press of Pakistan

Morocco
5. PM greets King of Morocco on his birthday
Islamabad, Sunday, 21 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has greeted the King of Morocco His Majesty Mohammed VI on his birthday which fell on 21 August.
Source: Associated press of Pakistan

Oman
6. Gilani for building stronger ties with Oman
Islamabad, Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani stressed the need to build stronger economic and political ties with Oman for the mutual benefit.
Source: Associated press of Pakistan

Saudi Arabia
7. PM to leave for Saudi Arabia on Sunday
Islamabad, Saturday, 6 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani would pay a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia from Sunday and would have an audience with King Abdullah and discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

8. PM arrives on a two-day visit to perform Umrah
Jeddah, Sunday, 7 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani arrived on Sunday on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and to discuss with the Saudi leadership ways to further strengthen bilateral ties and the situation in the region.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

9. Gilani performs Umrah
Mecca, Sunday, 7 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani performed Umrah and prayed for peace, solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan besides seeking Allah Almighty’s help in overcoming challenges facing the nation. He offered special nawafil and prayed for the well being of the people of Pakistan and security of the country in the wake of serious threats from extremist and terrorist elements and sought.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

10. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree on strengthening ties
Jeddah, Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to enhance cooperation and boost their ties in a comprehensive manner. Bilateral relations, cooperation and regional situation were reviewed during an audience by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani with King Abdullah at the Royal Palace.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

11. Gilani pays his respects at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH)
Medina, Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani paid his respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (Peace be upon Him), offered ‘Nawafil’ and prayed for peace, progress and unity of Pakistan and well being of its people.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

12. PM returns home after official visit of Saudi Arabia
Islamabad, Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani arrived on Tuesday night after the two-day official visit of Saudi Arabia during which he also addressed the Pakistan Investors Forum.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

13. PM terms his Saudi visit as ‘renewal of ties’
Islamabad, Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said his visit to Saudi Arabia has renewed the bonds of brotherhood and fraternity with its leadership. Addressing the Cabinet meeting held at PM Secretariat, the Prime Minister apprised them of his visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with King Abdullah.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

14. Pakistan Ambassador calls on Saudi Hajj minister
Islamabad, Wednesday, 10 August 2011
The Ambassador of Pakistan Muhammad Naeem Khan called on the Saudi Minister for Hajj Dr. Fuad Abdul Salam Al Farisy at his office in Jeddah. The minister welcomed the Ambassador and congratulated him on his appointment as new Envoy of Pakistan to the Kingdom.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

15. Pakistani ambassador discuss economic situation
Jeddah, Monday, 15 August 2011
Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia Muhammad Naeem Khan called on Saudi Minister for Economy and Planning Khalid Al-Gosaibi and briefed him on economic situation in Pakistan. The ambassador highlighted investment opportunities in education, agriculture and health sectors in Pakistan.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

16. Several PIA flights affected due to congestion at Jeddah
Karachi, Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Several of PIA flights have been affected due to congestion at Jeddah Airport in the current Umrah season.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

Turkey
17. Athar Ali lauds services of outgoing Defence Attaché
Islamabad, Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Secretary of Defence Lt Gen (Retd.) Syed Athar Ali lauded the work of outgoing Defence Attaché of Turkey Captain (N) Levent Kerim for expanding cooperation with Pakistan. He said this while talking to Kerim who called on him along with the new Defence Attaché of Turkey in the Ministry of Defence.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

18. Foreign Minister to visit Turkey on Aug 11
Islamabad, Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar would leave for Ankara on an official visit on the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

19. Pakistan, Turkey working together for peace in region
Ankara, Thursday, 11 August 2011
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that Pakistan and Turkey were factors of stability in the region and they were working together to convert the challenges into opportunities for a better future for the people.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

20. To transform bilateral ties into tangible partnership
Ankara, Thursday, 11 August 2011
Turkey and Pakistan took a leap forward in their bilateral relations and agreed to transform existing historical brotherly relations into tangible economic partnership. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and her Turkish counterpart Prof. Dr. Ahmed Davutoglu in their exclusive and delegation level meetings decided to discuss modalities of entering into Preferential Trade Agreement.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

21. FM Khar meets Turkish President, PM
Istanbul, Friday, 12 August 2011
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, currently on a visit to Turkey on the invitation of her Turkish counterpart Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu, met separately with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Khar emphasized on the need to upgrade rail and road links between Pakistan and Turkey. She said this would not only boost economic activities between the two countries but could benefit the neighbouring countries’ access to EU market.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

22. Pak community in Ankara celebrates Independence Day
Islamabad, Sunday, 14 August 2011
The 65th Independence Day of Pakistan was commemorated at Pakistan Embassy in Ankara, Turkey with enthusiasm and fervour.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

23. Turkish delegation distributes Iftar packages
Islamabad, Wednesday, 24 August 2011    
A three-member Turkish delegation from the city of Ineg”l distributed Iftar packages amongst flood victims in district Muzaffargarh and the prisoners in central jail Rawalpindi.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

United Arab Emirates
24. Pak community in UAE celebrate Independence Day
Islamabad, Sunday, 14 August 2011
The members of Pakistani community in the United Arab Emirates celebrated Pakistan Independence Day on Sunday with traditional fervour, enthusiasm and simplicity.
Source: Associated press of Pakistan

Economic Issues
Saudi Arabia
25. Saudi-Pak Insurance shows better performance
Islamabad, Tuesday, 30 August 2011
The Saudi Pak Insurance Company Limited (SPICL) has earned net profit of Rs.6.1 million during the second quarter ended in 30 June 2011, showing much better performance over the same period of last year during which it had to face losses of Rs.7.4 million.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

Sports Issues
Egypt
26. Pakistan, Egypt’s match ends in a draw
Islamabad, Monday, 8 August 2011
The match between Pakistan and Egypt’s junior hockey teams ended in a draw on Sunday in the 5-Test Match Series against Egyptian Hockey team in Cairo, Egypt.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

Compiled by Dipanwita Chakravortty

Dipanwita Chakravortty is an Intern at MEI@ND. Email 

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND P R Kumaraswamy