Pakistan wants to improve its economic and business ties with Azerbaijan, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Prime Minister remarked in a message on the social media site “X” that he had arrived in Baku, a stunning city where the past and future meet in a welcoming embrace.

According to him, the city appears much more charming when covered with snow.

The Prime Minister expressed his excitement for fruitful talks aimed at further solidifying the long-standing ties between the two nations.

Health officials announced on Monday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has confirmed the first locally transmitted case of monkeypox.

The infected patient, according to Provincial Health Advisor Ehtesham Khan, is a woman whose husband just returned from a Gulf nation.

Following a fever and body symptoms, the patient was brought to the hospital on February 18. Her mouth and body developed rashes a day later. On February 21, the illness was confirmed by laboratory testing at Khyber Medical University.

The patient’s family and close acquaintances have been screened by health experts. The health advisor stated that “all close relatives, including the patient’s husband, have been instructed to self-isolate.”

The public has been advised by authorities to be on the lookout for signs of the illness and to get medical help right away if necessary.

Close contact with an infected person can transfer the virus that causes monkeypox, which manifests as fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches.

Although incidents among tourists returning from overseas have been identified in the past, this is the province’s first domestic transmission case.

Through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan’s trade connections with Saudi Arabia have grown significantly, with bilateral trade volume rising from $546 million to $700 million and exports to the Kingdom growing by 22%.

As bilateral economic cooperation continues to grow, Saudi investors have shown a strong interest in Pakistan’s construction, energy, agricultural, and information technology sectors. The objective for exporting IT services between the two countries has been raised from $50 million to $100 million.

Saudi Arabia has set up a help desk dedicated to making it easier for Pakistani IT companies to register in the Kingdom in order to expedite commercial procedures. The goal of this program is to speed up economic collaborations between the two countries and lower administrative barriers.

The well-known Saudi restaurant chain AlBaik has revealed plans to open locations in Pakistan, which is a big step for the food service industry and should lead to the creation of new job possibilities in the area.

Officials have noted that stronger business links between the two countries lead to greater economic stability, and the SIFC has played a crucial role in promoting these trade advancements. For bilateral trade and investment projects, the Council remains a crucial facilitator.

According to a trade official with knowledge of the developments, “the establishment of dedicated support mechanisms, such as the help desk for IT companies, demonstrates a commitment to long-term economic partnership,” The goal of these programs is to improve the conditions for commercial collaboration between the two nations.

The increasing amount of trade and the diversity of investment sectors show that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s economic ties are changing as both countries seek to deepen their business alliances in a number of industries.