upport Pakistan’s efforts to seize the development opportunity such a find might bring, and handle any challenges. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was originally conceived as a strategic project with oil and gas pipeline links between Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Gwadar port. If Pakistan discovers massive oil reserves, that will be a motivation to extend Pakistan’s pipeline network further into neighboring countries, and also to enhance energy cooperation with Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia. Not only China but also the whole region will benefit from economic integration through energy connectivity. Using those reserves will likely result in large cross-border capital flows, infrastructure investment, energy trades, and people-to-people exchanges. The region will see the development and utilization of oil reserves as a pillar of economic integration and stability. The geopolitical picture in Asia has long been complex and uneven, but Pakistan’s potential oil reserves are likely a game-changer for the region, with economic cooperation in energy. Hopefully, neighboring countries and Gulf nations won’t ignore the opportunities to enhance energy cooperation with Pakistan and would help fostering an energy network in Asia.

MUMBAI:  Recently social  media was abuzz with speculations regarding Bollywood actor Salman Khan reportedly performing maiden Umrah after  visiting  Saudi Arabia. The reports however have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet. 

There were also some reports that Salman Khan visited Saudi Arabia to a film festival in Dhahran.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan reached Saudi Arabia Monday to attend a film festival, being held in the King Abdulaziz Culure Centre, Ithra, as part of the Sharqiah Season, Hindustan Times reported.

Saudi Arabi’s English Daily, Saudi Gazette reported “For the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, renowned Bollywood Star Salman Khan was a guest on “The Evening with the Stars” event, one of many activities on the Sharqiah Season.”

There are no confirmed reports whether Salman Khan performed Umrah or not during his visit to Saudi Arabia.