ISLAMABAD, Sep 23 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi Thursday while lauding their approach on international issues, said the leadership of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was capable to lead the world through their vision.
The president, addressing a seminar on “Pak-Saudi Relations: Past, Present and Future” held here, said having their religious affinity, the people of Pakistan were devoted for security of the holy land of Saudi Arabia.
Federal Ministers Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Pir Nurul Haq Qadri, Special Assistants to PM Allama Tahir Ashrafi and Shabaz Gill, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Saudi Ambasador Nawaf Bin Said Al Maliki attended the event held in connection with the celebration of 91st National Day of Saudi Arabia.
The president said the first treaty of friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was signed in 1951 and that both the countries had a long history of friendship.
He said even after India carried out atomic explosion, Pakistan’s friendly countries stood by it to build the capacity and achieve deterrence.
The president especially lauded the treatment of Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia who also contributed to Saudi development besides sending remittances to Pakistan.
He viewed that no incident in the history could hurt the Pak-Saudi relationship as both the countries showed their exemplary friendship even at international forums.
President Alvi said the whole Muslim world looked at the Saudi leadership for guidance on international issues.
He said at a time when the commercial and other vested interests dominated the international affairs, the world needed a leadership which formulated its policies on the basis of morality. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can fill the gap, he added.
Lamenting the phenomenon of fake news, the president said the Holy Quran had also warned about the same tendency which also led to the prevailing situation in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The president appreciated the vision of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for environment protection as well as Saudi Vision 2030 which featured the development of a modern and unique city.
He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia effectively handled the COVID pandemic regardless of whatsoever the fake news said about the two friendly states.
Later, the president gave shields to Saudi Ambassador, Tahir Ashrafi and four overseas Pakistanis for their remarkable contribution to strengthen Pak-Saudi ties.
In his address, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain gave a historical account of Pak-Saudi ties which he said existed even before the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Greeting the Saudi leadership on the National Day, the minister said the towering leadership of King Abdul Aziz led to the creation of Saudi Arabia which was also a great achievement in Muslim history.
He said it was the then Saudi leadership which paved the way for Pakistan’s entry into the United Nations and also mentioned the donation of 10,000 pounds on Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s request when a famine hit Bengal during 1943.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, a new chapter of Pak-Saudi relationship had started who was determined to take the ties to a new height.
The information minister also appreciated the role of Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan for strengthening bilateral ties, who he said, was the most popular envoy in Islamabad.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Nurul Haq Qadri said the Pak-Saudi ties were time-tested which always remained unaffected by any situation.
He said Imran Khan and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman would further strengthen the relationship through their vision.
SAPM Tahir Ashrafi, also host of the seminar, said the security and stability of the two Holy Mosques was tantamount to the security of Pakistan.
He said both the countries enjoyed exemplary friendship in multiple spheres including political or defence.
He said keeping in view the changing world scenario, it was inevitable for the Muslim Umma to forge unity for its existence. He also thanked Saudi leadership for supporting the Muslim world when it came the rights struggle of Muslims like Kashmir and Palestine.
Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al Maliki, in his address, said the Kingdom greatly valued its relations with the Muslim countries.
He said both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia stood by each other through thick and thin.
The ambassador also lauded the signing of an agreement for signing of Saudi-Pak Supreme Coordination Council to provide strategic direction to the bilateral relations during Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
