Saudi Arabia stopped issuing public attack warnings before four strikes on Riyadh airport killed at least 18 people and wounded over 300. Civil defence resumed alerts on Monday, October 12, warning of threats in Riyadh and southern cities. Its previous alert, on September 29, concerned Najran. Saudi authorities have not explained the silence. Civil defence and the government media office did not answer Reuters’ questions. Reuters could not establish whether the airport attacks prompted the resumption. Officials questioned missing alerts Saudi Arabia introduced mobile-phone and social-media threat alerts in May. Weather warnings continued during the gap in military alerts. Two Western officials said Saudi authorities attributed the suspension to disruption and complaints about alerts waking citizens at night. Saudi officials did not respond to that account. Sultan Alamer, a US-based Saudi academic at the Middle East Policy Council, said: “They (the Saudi government) want to have it both ways: to launch a military operation and at the same time try to give confidence to the population and external stakeholders,” Former US ambassador Michael Ratney said: “Their approach to public messaging seems like a corollary to the quandary they are in: They need to respond to the Houthis but don’t want that to result in societal disruption and their public messaging is a reflection of that,” “But the lack of alerts of incoming Houthi attacks creates the very nervousness they are trying to avoid.” Embassies sent separate warnings Two Western officials said Riyadh had faced about a dozen attacks this month. Western embassies issued internal warnings using Western intelligence and Saudi input, according to Reuters. Staff received alerts around the first two airport strikes. However, even embassies received no warning before Saturday’s deadliest attack. Reuters could not determine why. Saudi state television subsequently showed travellers waiting inside the terminal before an orange explosion flashed. Authorities also warned against sharing interception images, impact-site information or rumours under March regulations. Reuters could not establish whether anyone had faced prosecution. Meanwhile, authorities extended Riyadh airport’s closure until Saturday, October 17, according to a separate Reuters report. Air defence gaps raise concerns Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi highlighted the challenge of protecting the kingdom’s infrastructure. “In Saudi Arabia you have too much to protect. It’s a huge country with airports, pipelines and oil facilities. There is just not enough coverage to defend everything at once, not enough Patriots (missile defence systems), interceptors and missile batteries to do it all,” he said. “Saudi Arabia has an unlimited need for air defences,” he added. Despite the attacks, Riyadh hosted the World Petroleum Council Energy Congress on Monday, although major oil executives withdrew. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman thanked visitors “because you know this country is safe” but acknowledged continuing danger. “Our gathering here does not mean the risk is gone.” “We will never forfeit any chance to maintain our commitment and our vision,” he said.
Need a Business Loan? Pakistan Sets Rs2.2 Trillion Financing Target
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to double SME financing in Pakistan to Rs2.2 trillion by 2028. The target would raise lending from the current Rs1.1 trillion as the government seeks to expand business opportunities nationwide. Sharif issued the directive on Monday, October 12, while chairing a meeting on Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) reforms. He said small and medium-sized enterprises had significant potential to accelerate economic growth. The prime minister stressed that entrepreneurs needed better access to financing and opportunities to establish and expand their businesses. Business loan guidance in local languages Sharif instructed SMEDA to prepare a comprehensive strategy explaining how entrepreneurs can obtain business loans. He also called for broader public awareness of financing opportunities and measures to encourage entrepreneurship. He directed relevant experts to prepare feasibility studies for businesses across different sectors. These studies should offer practical guidance in local languages so aspiring entrepreneurs across Pakistan can benefit. Read More: ABHI Bank, RCCI Partner to Expand SME Financing The prime minister also linked business development in underserved areas with efforts to reduce migration towards major cities. Helping communities establish local businesses, he said, could improve regional prosperity and support more balanced national development. His instructions covered both access to money and the guidance entrepreneurs need before starting a business. AI helpline and Alibaba training Officials briefed the meeting on plans to make SMEDA a central platform for entrepreneurial training and access to bank financing. They said the authority was establishing offices across the country to reach more small businesses. An artificial intelligence-powered helpline is also under development. It will provide citizens with business information and guidance in local languages. Read More: Aurangzeb NBP Meeting Focuses on Digital Banking, SMEs Meanwhile, officials said they were improving the SME digital portal to make it more efficient and easier to use. The briefing also covered a memorandum of understanding between SMEDA and global e-commerce company Alibaba. Under the agreement, 10,000 SMEs would receive training over two years. Federal ministers Rana Tanveer, Jam Kamal, Musadik Malik, Ahad Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Chaudhry Salik Hussain attended alongside senior government officials. Existing support for SME lending The financing push builds on earlier efforts to encourage banks to lend to smaller businesses. In August 2024, the State Bank of Pakistan announced a government-backed risk coverage scheme for fresh SME lending. Its original framework provided 20% first-loss coverage for small enterprises and 10% for medium enterprises, covering the principal portion of credit losses. The scheme included new and existing businesses, working capital financing and longer-term loans, with tenors of up to five years. These guarantees help banks manage lending risks, while the latest SMEDA reforms focus on training, guidance and access to finance. Monday’s announcement set a financing target for 2028 but did not specify new borrower-level interest rates, eligibility rules or application deadlines.
