Fayez Nureldine—AFP
Ambassador calls relations with Pakistan ‘very strong, intimate, and exemplary.’
Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Islamabad and Consulate General in Karachi are working to ensure Haj visas for Pakistanis are issued on time.
“I assure the brotherly people of Pakistan that during the forthcoming Haj season of this year,” said Amb. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer in a press statement, Saudi officials “are working day and night to complete the visas in time. I pray to Allah Almighty to accept their Haj.”
The ambassador’s message, on the 83rd National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today, complimented Pakistan’s government and extended “most sincere wishes to the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan” for their “safety … continuous progress and prosperity.”
Al-Ghadeer said bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have “always been very strong, intimate, and exemplary. They derive from common religion, culture, and customs. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue to stand by Pakistan through thick and thin and will endeavor to further develop bilateral ties in the interest of both brotherly nations.”
He added that Saudi Arabia has recently launched “the largest ever” expansion of the two ancient mosques in Mecca (extending its capacity to 2.5 million people) and Medina (extending its capacity to 1.6 million people). The expansion will also increase the number of people who can “circumambulate” around the Kaaba from 52,000 per hour to 130,000 per hour.
The ambassador further said: “Since the day of its formation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is engaged in serving the Muslim Ummah and working for its solidarity and unity. In this framework, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques [the Saudi king] convened the Extraordinary Muslim Solidarity Summit at [Mecca] last year on 26-27th Ramadan to address the current challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah.”
In his message, the ambassador also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role as a donor nation, providing humanitarian and economic assistance to countries around the world. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has emerged as a prosperous welfare state with enormous achievements in political, economic, social, cultural, industrial, and agricultural domains,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia being ranked No. 8 on the IMF’s 2012 list of high-growth economies reflects his country’s “economic strength and stability.”