RIYADH, KSA (Kashmir English): Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of State Security has agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi Directorate of Financial Investigation and Pakistan’s Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) to expand cooperation in the exchange of investigations related to money laundering, terrorism financing, and associated crimes.
Pakistan and KSA
Both the countries enjoy close relations in all spheres of life and worked together to counter terrorism and money laundering.
The decision to this effect was taken during the weekly cabinet meeting here on Tuesday. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired the meeting.
Saudi Press Agency (SPA), quoted Minister of Information Salman Al-Dosari as having said that at the outset of the meeting, the Crown Prince briefed the cabinet on his recent discussions, including meetings with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as well as a phone conversation with European Council President António Costa.
The participants of the cabinet meeting discussed the Kingdom’s diplomatic engagements with various countries concerning world peace and stability and expressed satisfaction over ongoing negotiations with Japan.
A key highlight of the huddle was the country’s confirmation that it would host the regional headquarters of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for the Middle East and North Africa. The move is expected to strengthen efforts against terrorism and various forms of crime in the region.
Saudi cabinet also welcomed the final statement of the six-party Arab ministerial consultative meeting on Palestine, which underlined the need for a lasting ceasefire and the acceleration of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
The cabinet also approved several agreements, including a security cooperation pact between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, it also endorsed MoUs with Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, allowing diplomatic and service passport holders from these countries to travel visa-free.
In what can be described to be a structural change, the cabinet also transferred the authority to issue licences in the financial and accounting sectors from the Ministry of Commerce to the Saudi Authority for Auditors and Accountants.
The meeting also reviewed the annual reports of various government entities, including the Hail Development Authority, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, and the Food and Drug Authority.
