Khan Congress chief in Kingdom
Published: Sep 3, 2010 23:54 Updated: Sep 4, 2010 00:16
ALKHOBAR: Asar Khan, an active Indian expatriate, has been appointed as the ruling Congress Party’s chief representative in Saudi Arabia.
According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the All-India Congress Committee’s Foreign Affairs Department approved Khan’s appointment as president of the Indian Overseas Congress in Saudi Arabia.
Expressing his thanks to the party leadership, Khan said: “It is an honor for me to have been entrusted with this important task. I am a dedicated Congress Party worker and have been inspired by the sagacious leadership of Sonia Gandhi and motivated by the dynamism of Rahul Gandhi. I will dedicate all my efforts to promote secular ideals and the concept of unity in diversity that my party represents.”
Khan promised to take up all outstanding issues that concern NRIs (non-resident Indians). “I will work under the direct supervision and patronage of Karan Singh, who chairs the Indian Overseas Congress,” he said. “We will soon have party chapters in different provinces of the Kingdom.”
The primary goal of the Indian Overseas Congress is to project a positive image of India, its multifaceted civilization and culture and to help NRIs understand the cultural and traditional values of Saudi Arabia.
“It has always been our endeavor to promote ties with Saudi Arabia. We take great pride in the fact that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has described India as his second home. The historic visit of our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Riyadh early this year has brought our two countries even closer,” said Khan. “We want to cement and expand trade and economic ties between our two countries.” He said through the Indian Overseas Congress, the party wants to provide a suitable platform for NRIs to address issues and hurdles that they face back home.
“We want to help take their grievances to the relevant bodies in India and help solve them. Our priority areas will be greater educational facilities for children of NRIs, an end to the concept of capitation fee, better resettlement of returning NRIs, pension schemes for them and other social, cultural and economic initiatives.”
Khan said efforts would also be made to provide all possible support to Indian missions in providing better service to pilgrims coming from India.
Khan has been living and working in the Kingdom since 1996 and has held several senior positions in different academic and business organizations.
He was in charge of Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University’s external relations, public relations and media department. He later became international business development president at the A.K. Saeed Group of Companies.

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