ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Manzoorul Haq on Sunday hoisted the national flag in a ceremony to commemorate 70th Independence Day of Pakistan.

A large number of Pakistan community members, including elderly people, women and children, attended the ceremony held at Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh.

On the occasion, messages of the President and the Prime Minister were read out, said a message received here.

In his address, Ambassador Manzoorul Haq extended warm
felicitations to the community.

Highlighting the importance of the day, he hoped that the
people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and Palestine would also achieve the right to self-determination.

The ambassador also condemned the terrorist attack in Quetta and paid rich tribute to the security forces and civil society for the sacrifices they rendered in fighting terrorism.

He said the ongoing operation against terrorism Zarb-e-Azb had been successful and Pakistan would soon get rid of the menace of terrorism.

The ambassador said Pakistan’s economy had shown positive trends in the recent years.

The economic growth of the country had accelerated with GDP showing the highest growth rate in the past seven years, per capita income was on the rise and foreign exchange reserves were touching all time high, he added.

He said due to the prudent and visionary policies of the
present government, investors’ confidence had been restored.

Referring to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Haq said it would lead to economic development of the whole region.

The ambassador said that 2.6 million Pakistanis were living in
the Kingdom. They played a significant role in strengthening
friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

About the problem of non-payment of wages to Pakistani workers by few companies in the Kingdom, he said the government of Saudi Arabia was taking all possible steps to address the problems.

He said it had been providing food to the workers where the
hiring companies had failed to do so. The rules governing renewal of resident iqamas and transfer of sponsorship had been relaxed for the workers of the companies concerned.

The Prime Minister had approved Rs 50,000 per family of
the affected workers, he said.

The ambassador urged the community to respect the laws of the Kingdom and work with devotion and dedication.

He praised their contribution in the economic development of
the two countries.